The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1902-02-27

a state OF things In the Caribbean which could
not permanently endure. Our neighbours
house was on Are. and there we're grave
doubts as to our rights and duties in the
premises.
believe that the verdict of history will be
that he met all these grave questions with
perfect valor and Incompatible ability: that
in graphing with them he rose to the. full
height of a great occasion, in a manner which
| redounded to the lasting benefit Of the coun-
try and to his own immortal honor.
s'Augmenter of the State"
| The least desirable form of glory to man
| of his habitual mood and temper-that OF sue
cessful war-was nevertheless conferred upon
him by uncomfortable events lie felt 1t
must come: he deplored its necessity; ne
strained almost to breaking his relations with
his friends. In order. first. to prevent. and
then to postpone it to the latest possible mo-
! ment. But when the die was cast, he Ia
bored with the utmost energy and ardor, ana
with an intelligence in military matters when
showed how much of the soldier still survived
in the mature statesman to push forward the
war to decisive close. War was an anguish
| to him: he wanted it short and conclusive.
His merciful zeal communicated itself to his
subordinates, and the war, SO long dreaded
whose consequences were so momentous end
| ed In a hundred DAYS. r'.I 500. E 80;
Mr. Stedman. the dean of our poets, has
a proud title: IL Justly conferred. it ranks
| him among the few whose names may be
placed definitely and forever in charge OF the
historic muse. Under his rule Hawaii mas
| come to us, and Tutuila; Porto Rico and the
| vast archipelago of the east. Cuba is free.
| Our position in the Caribbean is assured pc
| yopd the possibility of future question Inc
doctrine called by the name of Monroe. SO
long derided and denied by alien publicists,
| evokes now challenge Or contradiction
! when uttered to the world 1t has become an
International truism. The state rs augmented
but it threatens no nation under heaven. AS
| to those regions which have come under the
shadow of our flag, the possibility OF their
! being damaged by such a change of circum-
! stances was in the view Of Mckinley thing
! unthinkable. To believe that We could not
! administer them to their advantage was to
| turn infdel to our American faith OF more
than a hundred years. ....--
| In dealing with foreign powers. he Will
take rank with the greatest of our diploma
fists. BY patience, by frmness, by sheer rea-
! sonableness, he improved our understanding
with all the great powers of the world. and
! rightly gained the blessing which belongs 10
| the peacemakers. ... ~s -.... ...... -. ... .
! Economical Developments.
But the achievements of the nation in
war and diplomacy are thrown in the shade
by the vast economical developments which
| look
tration. .
! Among the most agreeable incidents of the
presidents term Of office were the two jour
neys he made to the south. The moral re-
union of the sections-so long and SO ardently
| desired by hinl-had been initiated by the
Spanish war, when the veterans OF both sues,
and their sons had marched shoulder to
shoulder together under the same banner, In
| the warm and chivalrous hearts Of that gem
erous people, the echo Of his cordial and
brotherly words will finger long, and his
name will be cherished in many house
| hold where yet the Lost Cause is Wor-
shipped 49,.
! Mr. Mckinley was reelected by an over
wheming majority There had been little
doubt of the result among well-informed PEG
pie; but when it was known, profound
feeling of relief and renewal Of trust were
evident among the leaders Of capital and OF
| industry, not only in this country, but every
! where. .,i
Let us say frankly he was party man;
he believed the policies advocated by him and
his friends counted for much in the coun-
try's progress and. prosperity. He hoped in
his second term to accomplish substantial re-
suits in the development and affirmation of
those policies. l spent day with him shortly
before he started on his fateful journey to
Buffalo. Never had l seen him higher in
hope and patriotic confidence. He was as
sure Of the future of his country as the
Psalnist who cried GLORIOUS things are
spoken of thee thou city of Cod He was
gratifed to the heart that we had arranged
a treaty which gave us free hand in the
| Isthmus. In fancy he saw the canal already
built and the argosies Of the world passing
through it in peace and amity. He saw in the
| immense evolution Of American trade the
fulfiilment of all his dreams, the reward OF
| all his labors. He regarded reciprocity as the
| bulwark Of protection-not breach, but a
fulfllment of the law. The treaties which
for four years had been preparing under his
personal supervision he regarded as ancilary
to the general scheme ':'.. ~
Speech on Eternity's Threshold.
In that mood of high hope, of generous ex-
pectation, he went to Buffalo, and there, on
the threshold Of eternity, he delivered tina;
memorable speech, worthy Of it's loftiness OF
tone, it's blameless morality, it's, breadth OF
view, tC be regarded as his testament to the
nation: Through all his pride Of country and
his joy Of it's success, runs the note of solemn
warning, as in Kipling's noble hymn, Lest
we forget
His years of apprenticeship had been served
He stood that day pas: master of the art OF
craftsmanship. He had nothing more TO ask
Of the people. He owed them nothing but
truth and faithful service. His mind an6
heart were purged of the temptations which
beset all men engaged In the struggle to sur
vive. In view Of the revelation of his nature
youchsafed to us that day, and the fate which
impended over him, We can only say in deer
affection and solemn awe, BLESSED are the
pure in heart, for they shall see Cod Ever
for that vision he was not unworthy.
t He had not long to. wait The next day
, sped the bolt of doom, and fer week aftel
in an agony OF dread broken by illusiv:
glimpses of hope that our prayers might bt
answered-the nation waited for the end
|, | Nothing in the glorious life that we saw
gradually waning was more admirable and
emplary than it's close. The gentle humanit!
. of his words, when he saw his assailant il
danger of summary vengeance, Don't le
them hurt him.; lis chivalrous care that thu
news should be broken gently to his wife
the fine courtesy with which he apologizet
for the damage which his death would brint
, | to the great exhibition and the heroic resig
. nation of his final words, 1T Is Gods way
. His will, not ours, be DONE" were all tn.
: instructive expressions of nature loft!
and so pure that pride in it's nobility at one
softened and enhanced the nations sense O
loss. The republic grieved over such a son
; but is proud forever Of having produced him
After all, in spite of its tragic ending, hi
life was extraordinarily happy. -
49, Elements of Fame. - -.
The obvious elements which enter into thu
| fame Of public man are few and by NJ
means reconcile. The man who fills grea
3 station in period of change, who leads hi
:. country successfully through time of crisis
who, by his power Of persuading and control
ling others, has been able to command tn
r best thought of his age, to leave hi
3 country in a moral or material condition il
: advance Of where he found it-such a man
) position in history is secure. If, in addition
, to this, his written or spoken words posses
2 the subtle quality which carry them far ant
: lodge them in mems hearts, and, more thai
] ! all, If his utterances and actions, while in
formed with lofty morality, are yet tinge.