The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1902-02-28
"On fortunes crowning slope,
"The pillar of a peoples hope,
1.-THE center of a worlds desire"

EIe was fortunate even in his untimely DEATH 70.
an event tragical called the world imperatively to
the immediate study of his life and character, and
thus anticipated the praises of posterity
Every young and growing people has to meet, at
moments, the problems of its destiny. Whether the
question in Egypt from sphinx, symbol of
the hostile forces Cmnpoent nature who Furnishes
with instant death our raiIure to understand her
meaning; whether it comes, in Jerusalem, from
the Lord of Hosts, who commands the building of His
temple, it always with the warning that the
past is past and experience vain. Your fathers
where they? and the prophets, do they live for
ever?" The fathers dead; the prophets silent:
the questions new, and have no answer but in
time.
When the horny outside which protects the
infancy of chrysals nation suddenly bursts and. in
single abrupt shock it finds itself floating on wings
which had not existed before whose strength 1t has
never tested among dangers it can not foresee and is
without experience to measure, every motion is IA
problem, and every hesitation may be an error. The
past gives clue to the future. The fathers, where
they? and the prophets do they live forever? We
are ourselves the fathers! We ourselves the
prophets! The questions that are put to us we mus
answer without delay, without help-for the sphinx
allows pass.
At such moments, which have already occurred at
least twice in the brief history of lives
be humbly grateful to have had leaders simple in
mind clear in Vsion-as far as human vision can
safely eNtend-penetratng in knowledge of men,
supple and flexible the pressures
society, instinct with the energy OF life and
tried strength cautious calm, and above all, gifted
in a supreme degree with the surely victorious of
all political vrtues-the genius of infinite patience.
The obvious elements which enter into the fame of
Il public few and by means recondte.
The man who fills great station in period of
change, who leads his country successfully through
time of crisis; who, by his power of persuadng and
controlling others has been able TO leave his country
in a moral material condition in advance of where
he found it-such mans position in history is secure,
If, in addition to this, his written spoken words
possess the subtle quality which them far and
lodge them in mems hearts; and than all, if his
utterances and actions while Informed with lofty
morality, are yet tnged with the glow of human SYM
pathy, the fame of such man will shine like bea-
through the msts of object of reverence,
OF imitation, and of love. 1t should be to an oC-
Casion of solemn pride that in the three great crses
of history such man was not denied The
moral value to nation of a renown such Washing
TONS and Incoln's and McKinley's is beyond all
putation. No ofter ideal can be held up TO the
lation of ingenious youth With such examples we,
can not be wholly gnoble Grateful may be for
what they did let us be still more grateful for what
they While daily being our public policies,
stil feel influence of their work, let pray that
In spirits their lives may be vOuble calling up
ward and onward,
There is not one of us but feels prouder of his
tive land because the august figure Washington
presided its beginnings; but VOWS 1t a
tenderer love because Lincoln poured out his blood
for It: but must feel his devotion for his coun-
try renewed and kindled when he remembers how
Mckinley loved, revered and served it, showed In his
life how citizen should live, and i'm his last hour
taught us how gentleman could die.