The Van Buren press., 1902-03-08
TRIBUTE TO MCKINLEY.
Eloquent Eulogy of the pea"
Delivered by Hon. Charles
Emory Smith

y
ercises were held in the assembly
chamber. and were presided over ny
Gov OdeU. Seated on the platform
were United States Senator lhoihas
e platt and the members of the leg
islatiye committee which arranged
for the exercises. The chamber was
appropriately decorated.
The opening prayer was delivered
by Rt. Rev. William Croswell Doahe'
Protestant Episcopal bishop OF Al
banv. and the closing benedictIoh was
pronounced by Rt. Rev. 7, NJ A.
Burke. Roman Catholic bishop OF Al
banv The choir of All Saints Pro-
testant Episcopal cathedral rendered
the music.
Gov. Odell introduced the speaker
of the evening, Hon. Charles Emory
Smith. formerly postmaster general
The address was a careful review or
tbe eyentful life of the late presl-
dent, dwelling upon his career as SOL
der, lawyer and statesman with
more than passing reference TO ms
home life and eloquent tribute TO MS
noble qualities as son and husband.
Mr.. Smith said in part;
"As long as he lived he was the
puiding star of a whole brave nation,
and when he died the little children
cried in the streets.
So wrote Motley of William the
Great, Prince Of Orange, who en-
Iarged a republic and fell under the
hand of an assassin. So may we
speak of the dead president, who' by
cruel fate, was slain within the
borders of your state, and whose
memory you are assembled to honor
Thrice has our country been called
to mourn a murdered president. The
hot passions engendered by civil
strife impelled the first blow. The
alteration of disturbed brain, dis
torted by perverted view Of paril-
san contention, struck the second.
The third came in an hour of pro-
found calm, at time OF UNIVERSAL
good feeling, and it was aimed, not
in any disordered frenzy AT the gen
tie individual. but with cool and
stealthy design, from the lair OF lurk-
ING anarchy, at the head of the state.
The first two left helpless sorrow,
the third leaves a relentless duty
In his review Of the Mckinley adj
ministration Of the presidency Mr..
Smith dwelt upon the stirring days
which preceded the Spanish war, and
declared that the country did not yet
know the full extent of the effort
made by President Mckinley 20 save
Cubo and Mt the same time avert the
war Emf his efforts we're not met
with the same ingenious spirit, said
the sneaker, and the mighty issues
FASTENED TO their deadly grapplc. and
fine war was on.
Continuing Mr.. Smith passed quick
" over the exciting hundred DAYS Of
war TO the equally grave and serious
Questions that faced fine administra.
| tinn in NEGOTIATING terms Of peace
and settling the momcutuus ques.
| tiors of territorial ACQUISITION, OF
| thc settlement of these issues, Mr.
| Smith soid,
ain this conflict of opposing views
thc nrcsidcnt had no real pude bat
his avn sure instinct and his owr
sonso of duty. In reaching his con
clusion there was one controlling
rorce The one commissioning innu
cnce in deciding his course was hi,
nrofound conviction of duty 10 th,
rude peoples whom the course OF
events had placed in our keeping. He
felt that TO abandon them under such
circumstances would be rpcrcnncy &c
A sacred trust.
"lis. then, was the authority. hi,
the responsibility, his the decision IN
what was turning point in Amer
lean history. and new epoch in ia,
course of civilization. If there hnt
been nothing else, this great act
alone was sufficient to give him q
sure niche in the temple of fame
owe do not undertake to pass upon
the questions of the future, but what,
ever may be It's course It is certain
that the freedom which has sproa,
its glorious lpht in the philippin,
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