The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1902-01-31

reluctant to speak In his own defenSe
lest he impair its dignity. He IL
the helpless football of every accusa-
ton.
HIS GREAT TACT.
President Mckinley possessed in
finite tact, in his management Of men
and OF measures. He always moved
along the line of least resistance, and
accomplished the result with far less
apparent effort than would be possible
to others. He possessed essentially
the diplomatic temperament, grounded
upon native kindness OF heart. An
interview with him was always per-
sonal pleasure, even to those who con-
tended unsuccessfully against his
views. The things that those who met
him perhaps most uniformly observed
were his composure, his cheerfulness
and his uniform and unfailing cour-
tesy. Amid the enormous pressure OF
public business, pressure so great
that no man ought to be required to
endure It, he rarely seemed to be in a
hurry, and in the midst of much -ex-
citement around him his own demeanor
was calm. / think he believed that
there were many matters that would
right themselves best withbut this
strong personal interposition, and that
his own highest efforts ought to be re-
served for important occasions
TEMPERAMENT OF A STATESMAN.
"In this way he kept what strength
was possible among infinite distrac-
tions. Moreover. he did not give way
to sudden fits Of irascibility. but was
always master Of himself. Those who
saw him upon public business. were,
think, often impressed by the courtli-
ness of his demeanor; and that was
part of his nature. He was a noble
man of natures stamp, more genuine
than those who are made SO by the
canons and institutions of society. The
essential reasons for his good breeding
were his warm heart, his sympathetic
nature, and his love for his fellow
man. When he knew that the world
might soon vanish from his gaze, we
all remember the things that were first
in his thoughts, and the words that
came first to his lips, and they will
remain precious heritage to the Ameri-
can people It is in such terrible mo-
ments that the waters Of the soul are
clear, and men can see the depths that
lie within. q-4
THE HOME LIFE.
when l come to the sacred pre-
cincts of his home life, / reach sane
tuary which / dare not enter. But We
all know what it was, and If we do not
speak, II is because the theme Is too
sacred for public utterance. 1t forms
part of our estimate of the whole man
an estimate by which he stands, in the
words Of Senator Hoar, the best be-
loved president since Washington.
These words were literally true; for
even Lincoln, tenderly as we cherish
his memory today, had during his life
time far more numerous array Of en-
emies than the little coterie of detract-
ors who have sought to defile the name
of Mckinley. ~
There was nothing small about his
statesmanship. This is shown by the
extraordinary care he took with the
government of our new possessions.
Tho best We had in talent and integri-
ty he sent thither,-Taft to the Phil
ippines, Wood to Cuba, Allen and Hunt
to Porto Rico. He once said to me, 4
have long been looking for an attorney
general for Porto Rico. and ! do not
know where to find him. Do you
know Of man qualified for such a
place? If it were a similar place here
at home, / would have no trouble.
There are many men who would be
good enough. But for these new pos
sessions, we must take better care OF
them than of ourselves
+ NOT A POLITICIAN.
"He has been called politician. But
how much more than that was Presi-
MaIy ;,,11 hat l.
TO his craftsmanship than the exclu-
sion of political influence in the gov
arnment of the Philippine Islands and
he establishment of the merit system
there? What wonderful cabinet it
was that he left to his successor! At
he time OF his death there was hardly
one among the family Of these official
md confidential advisers who could be
considered politician. II was a cabi-
net composed of more admirable ma
.erial than any since the time of Lin
,oln--a cabinet so good as to make any
of it by his successor
'iflcult problem.
Our country has been peculiarly for
innate in the choice OF its chief rulers.
think no other nation in history can
compare with it. We began well. |
said Napoleon, lis name |
hat will endure forever, while mine |
will be lost in vortex of revolutions
And his successors-the taint OF We
lality has not touched single name |
No one Of them ever willfully sacri- |
iced the public good in his high kof-
Ice to further the mere claims Of per-
ional ambition. Some are peerless |
wen among the most eminent names in
he worlds history. ~
OUR GREAT NAMES.
What American would exchange his
for thoie of any kingdom |
" empire under the sun? Our great |
lames have been the logical fruitage
If our institutions. Government can |
iave no loftier function than the de-
yelopment Of high character 1t was
he Institutions of America that en-
sbled William Mckinley to become !
What he was. In any other country |
lis talents might not indeed have been
titled, but they never could have
cached the splendid development given |