Santa Fe new Mexican. [volume] (Santa Fe, N.M.) 1898-1951, 1902-02-27

ming.
A year after he left congress he wa
made governor of Ohio and two year
later he was reelected, each time b
a majority unhoped for and over
| whelming. He came to fill a space Il
the public eye which obscured grea
portion of the field of vision. In tw,
national conventions, the presidenc.
seemed within his reach. But he hat
gone there in the interests of other
and his honor forbade any dallianc,
with temptation. So his Nay was Ma,
delivered with a tone and gesture
there was no denying. His hour was
not yet come.
There was, however. no long delay
He became from year to year, the most
prominent politician and orator in the
country. Passionately devoted to the
principles of the party, he was always
ready to do anything, to go anywhere
to proclaim it's ideas and to support it's
candidate. For several months before
the Republican national convention
had eyes to see that Mr.. Mckinley was
the only probable candidate of his
party. Other names were mentioned,
of the highest rank in ability charac-
ter and popularity; they were suppor-
ted by powerful combinations but the
nomination of Mckinley as against the
field was inevitable.
The campaign he made will be al
ways memorable in our political an
nails.
When he came to the presidency he
confronted a situation of the utmost
difficulty, which might we'll have ap-
palled man of less serene and tram
quill self confidence. A man either
weak or rash, either irresolute or head
strong, might have brought ruin on
himself and incalculable harm to the
country. 1 believe that the verdict of
history will be that he met all the
grave questions with perfect valor and
unconquerable ability; that in grap-
pling with them he rose to the full
height of a great occasion in manner
which redounded to the lasting benefit
of the country and to his own immortal
honor.
In dealing with foreign powers, he
will take rank with the greatest of
our diplomatists. 1t was a world of
which he had little special knowledge
before coming to the presidency. But
his marvellous adaptability was in
nothing more remarkable than in the
firm grasp he Immediately displayed in
International relations. BY patience, by
irmness, by sheer reasonableness, he
improved our understanding with all
he great powers of the world, and
'ightfully gained the blessing which
belonged to the peacemakers.
But the achievements of the ration |
n war and diplomacy are thrown in
he shade by the vast economical de-
which took place during |
Mr.. McKinley's administration. The |
most extravagant promises made by |
he sanguine Mckinley advocated five
ears ago are left out of sight by the
ober facts. The debtor nation" has
,ecome the chief "creditor nation"
will not waste your time by explain
ng that I do not invoke for any man
he credit Of the vast results. The
aptain cannot claim that it is he who
lrives the mighty steamship over the
umbling pillows of the trackless
leep; but praise is justly due him if he
las made the best of her tremendous
,owers, if he has read Alright the cur
ents of the sea and the lessons of the
tars, and we should be ungrateful, II
n this hour of prodigious prosperity
We should fail to remember that Will
am Mckinley with sublime faith fore
aw it, with indomitable courage lab
red for it, put his whole heart and
hind into the work of bringing 1t
bout; that it was his voice which, in
ark hours, rang out, heralding the
oming light, as over the twilight wa
ars of the Nile the mystic cry Of Men
on announced the dawn to Egypt
raking from sleep.
Mr.. Mckinley was reelected by an
majority. There had
cen little doubt of the result among
ell informed people, but when 1t was
nown, a profound feeling Of relief and
anewal of trust were evident among the
,aders of capital and of industry, not
My in this country, but everywhere.
hey felt that the immediate future was
,cure, and that trade and commerce
light safely push forward in every field
effort and enterprise. He inspired
niversal confidence, which Is the life
Iood of the commercial system of the
'orld.
The obvious elements which enter into
,e fame of a public man are few and by
0 means recondite. The man who fills
great station In o period Of change,
ho leads his country successfully
trough time of crisis; who by his
over of persuading and controlling
hers has been able to command the
est thought of his age, so as to lead his 9
,untry in moral or material condition
advance of where he found it-such $
mans position in history is secure. II,
addition to this, his written or spoken 9
ords, possess the subtle qualities which
lrry them far and lodge them In mems
carts; and, more than all, II his utter.
aces and actions whilo informed with a
fly morality, are yet tinged with the
ow OF human sympathy, the fame OF {
,ch man will shine like beacon 1
trough the mists of ages-an object of :
'verence, of imitation, and Of love. 1t
lould be to us an occasion Of solemn :
tide that in the three great Crises Of 4