Cameron County press. [volume] (Emporium, Cameron County, Pa.) 1866-1922, 1902-03-06


take rank with the greatest Of our dip.O-
natsts 1t was world of which he mad
HJtIc special knowledge betore coming to
the presidency. But his marvellous adapt
ability was in nothing more remarkable
than in the firm grasp he Immediately dis
played IN international relations. In pre-
pairing for war and In the restoration Of
peace he was alike aLrOit, courteous, and
far-sighted. When sudden emergency
declared itself, as in China, in a state of
things of which our history furnished no
precedent and international law no safe
and certain precept, he hesitated not mo-
ment to take the course marked out for
him by considerations of humanity and the
national interests. Even while the lega-
uons were lighting for their lives against
bands of infuriated fanatics, he decided
that we were at peace with China; and
while that conclusion did not hinder him
from taking the most energetic measures
to rescue our imperiied citizens 1t enabled
him to maintain close and friendly rela-
tions with the wise and her ic viceroys of
the south whose resolute stand saved that
ancient empire from anarchy and spolia-
tion. He disposed of every question as 1t
arose with promptness and clarity of
vision that aStonished his advisers, and he
never had occasion to review a judgment
or reverse decision.
BY patience. by firmness, by sheer rea-
sorableness, he improved our understand
ing with all the great powers of the world,
and rightly gained the blessing which be-
longs to the peacemakers.
The Nations Prosperity.
But according to Mr.. Hay the achieve
merits of the nation in war and diplomacy
are thrown in the SHADE by the vast eco
nom!cal developments which took place
during Mr.. Mckinley : administration. Up
to the time of his first election, the Coun-
try was suffering from long period Of de-
precision, the reasons of which / will not
try to seek. But from the moment the bal
lots were counted that betokereG his ad-
vent to power a great and momentous
movement in advance declared itself along
all the lines of industry and commerce.
In the very month of his Inauguration steel
rails began to be solo at SIS Il ton-one of
the most significant facts of modern times.
1t meant that American Industries had ad-
justed themselves TO the long Depression
that through the power OF the race TO or
gau!Ze and combine. stimulated by the con-
Gitiuns then prevailing, and perhaps by the
prospect of legislation favorable to indus
try, America had begun to unGersell the
rest Of the world. The movement went on
without ceasing. The president and his
party kept the pledges Of their platform
and their canvass.
Ended Third Term Talk.
Mr.. Mckinley was reelected by an over
versal confidence, which is the lifeblood
of the commercial system of the world.
1t began frequently to be said that such
a state of things ought to continue; one
that the president was his own best sue
ces#or He paid little attention to these
suggestions until they were repeated by
some of his nearest friends Then he
saw that one of the most cherished ira
ditions of our public life was in danger.
ecy Gf the papal throne-Non videbis amos
| Petri-twice contradicted by the longevity
the unwritten law of our republic: Thou
shalt not exceed the years of Washing
ton The president saw it was time to
speak. and in his characteristic manner
he spoke, briefly but enough. Where
| the lichtnin" strikes there is no need of
| iteration. From that hour no one
! dreamed of doubling his purpose Of re-
| tiring at the end of mis- second term, and
| 1t win be Ion" before another such les
| son is required.
High Hopes for the Future.
! I spent a day with him shortly before
| he started on his fateful journey to Buff
| falo. Never had | seen him higher in
hope and patriotic confidence. He was
! as sure of the future OF his country
! the PSalmiSt who cried: GLORIOUS things
! are spoken Of thee thou city of God.
| He was gratined 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 ar
! gosies of the world passing through it
! in peace and amity. He saw in the inn
! mense evolution of American trade the
| fulflment of all his dreams, the reward
| of all his labors. He was-T need not
! say-an ardent protectionist. never more
| sincere and devoted than during those
! last days of his life. He regarded reel
! proCity the bulwark Of protection
! not a breach, but a fulfllment OF the
! law The treaties which for four years
/ had been preparing under his personal
supervision he REGARDED as ancillary to
]
/ any revolutionary plan Of change in the
existing LEGISLATION: he was careful to
/ DOnt out that everything he had done
! ,ras in faithful compliance with the law
/ itself
In that mood of high hope. Of generous
/ expectation. ne went to Buffalo. and
! there, on the threshold of eternity he
+ delivered that memorable speech, wcrthy
/ for its loftiness Of tone, its hlameless
! morality, its breadth of view. to be re-
sardcd as his testament to the nation.
The Tragic End.
The next day sped the bolt of doom.
. and for a week after-in an agony Of
, dread broken by illuslve gllmpses of
! nOpe that our prayers might be answered
! the nation waited for the end. Nothing
| in the glorious life that we saw gradual
! ly wan.nS was more admirable and eX-
! emplary than its close. The gentle hu-
| manity Of his words, when he saw his
| geance: Don't let them hurt him." his
| chivalrouS care that the news should be
broken gently to his wife; the fine cour-
tesy with which he apolOgized for the
| damage which his death would bring to
| the great exhibition; and the heroic rCSig-
nation of his final words: ''It is Gods
way. His will not ours be done" were
| all the instructive expressions of a nature
| so lofty and so pure that pride in its
| nobility at once sOftened and enhanced
| the nations sense of loss, The republic
| erieved over such a son-but is proud
| forever Of having produced him. After
| all in spite of its tragic ending, his life
was extraordinarily happy. He had, all
his days troops of friends, the cheer of
fame and fruitful labor; and he became
at iast-
"On fortunes crcwnng slope,
| The pillar of peoples hope,
| The center of a worlds DESIRE
He was fortunate even in his untimely
death, for an event so tragical called the
world imperatively to the immediate
study of his life and character, and thus
anticipated the sure praises of posterity.
In Conclusion.
The obvious elements which enter into
the fame of public man are few and by
no means recondite. The man who fills
a great station in a period of change.
| who leads his country successfully
through a time of crisis; who, by his
power of persuadirg and controlling 9TH
ers has been able to command the best
thought of his age as to leave his
country in a moral or material condition
in advance of where he found it-such a
| mans position in history is secure. II,
in addition to this his written or SPOKE
words possess the subtle quality which
carry them far and lodge them in men $
hearts; and, more than all, If his utter
ances and actions, while informed with
lofty morality, are yet tnged with the
| byy he q