Custer weekly chronicle. [volume] (Custer City, S.D.) 1890-1931, 1902-03-08

world. One can conceive how the deatt
of a dictator may change the political
conditions OF an empire. how the extinc.
ton of a narrowing line OF kings may
bring In an alien dynasty, But IN a wei
ordered republic like ours, the ruler may
fall, but the state feels no tremor. Oui
beloved and revered leader is gone-but
the natural process of our laws provides
us a successor, identical in purpose and
ideals, nourished by the same teachings,
inspired by the same principles, pledged
by tender affection as we'll as by high
loyalty TO carry TO completion the i'm
mense task committed to his hands, and
to smile with iron severity every mani
festation of that hideous crime which his
mild predecessor, with his dying breath,
Our minds cannot discern the origin,
nor conceive the extent of wickedness SC
perverse and so cruel: but this does not
exempt US from the duties of trying to
control and counterfeit II. This problem
OF anarchy is dark and intricate, but IT
ought to be within the ompass of dem
ocratic Recommendations no san
mlnd can fathom the mystery OF these
uhtracked and orbitless natures-to guard
against their alterations, TO take away
from them the hope of escape, the long
luxury, or scandalous days in court, the
unwholsome sympathy of hysterical de-
generates, and so by degrees to. make the
crime not worth committing, even TO these
abnormal and distorted souls.
As to Remedies.
1t would be -presumptuous for me I'm this
presence TO suggest the details of remedial
legislation For a malady so malignant.
lhat task may safely be left to the skill
ana patience Of the national congress,
Wnlch mas never been found uneQual TO
any such emergency. TIL country be-
ileves that the memory of these three
murdered comrades of ~yours-all of whose
! voices stll haunt these walls-will be a
suincient inspiration TO enable you to
/ SOlAR even IhiG nhCfrnCn a md tainfll nrOh-
!em, which has dimmed so many pages
OF history with blood and with tears.
Inc HE OF William Mckinley was, from;
his birth TO his death, typically American.
There Is no environment. | should say,
anywhere else I'm the world which could
produce Just such a character. He was
porn nnto mat way, OF life which elswhere
Is called the middle class, but which in
This country Is so nearly universal as 10
make of other classes an almost negligi-
Die quantity. He was neither rich nor
~poor-neither proud noT humble; he
knew no hunger he was not sure of sat
isfying, no luxury which could enervate
mind or body. His parents were sober,
God-fearing people; intelligent and up
right; without p~retentions and without
humility. lie grew up I'm the company of
boys like himself; wholesome, honest,
se~lf-respecting. They looked down on no.
body; they never felt 1t possible they
could be looked down upon. Their houses
were the homes OF probity, piety, patriot
ism. They learned in the admirable
school readers of fifty years ago the les
sons Of heroic and splendid life which
have come down from the past. They
read i'm their weekly newspapers the story
OF the worlds progress, in which they
and wrongs Of civilization. with which
they burned to do battle. IT was n seri-
Gus and thoughtful time. The boys Of
that day felt dimly, but deeply, that days
were before them. They looked at life
with the wondering yet resolute eyes OF a
young esquire In his vigil Of arms. They
felt n time was coming when to them
should be addressed the stern admonition
of the apostle, Quit you like men; be
strong
Phenomenal Political Career.
In 1876 he began, by an election to con
gross, his political career. Thereafter
for fourteen years this chamber was his
home.
He was a republican. he could not be
Following the natural bent Of his mind,
he devoted himself to questions of finance
and revenue To the essentials of the ma
tional housekeeping, lie took high rank
I'm the house from the beginning.
A year after he left congress he was
made governor of Ohio and Two years
later he was reelected. each time by a
majority unhoped for and overwhelming
He came to fiji n space in the public eye
which obScured n great portion of the
field Of vision. In two national conVcn-
TONS the DIGSluclltN SetIlcu WllIlll MS
reach. But lie had zone there in the in
tcrests Of others and his honor forbade
any dalliance with temptation. So his
nay was nay-delivered with a one and
gesture there was no denying. His hour
was not yet come.
There was, however, no long delay. rio
became, flom year to year, the most prom
inent politician orator in the coun-
try. IaSsionately devoted to the princi-
pies OF the party, he was always ready
TO do anything, to go anywhere, to pro-
claim It's ideas and to support It's candi-
date. For several months before the re-
publican national convention met in 1896,
Il was evident to all who had eyes TO see
that Mr.. Mckinley was the only probable
candidate of his party. Other names We're
mentioned, Of the highest rank I'm ability,
character ard popularity; they were sup
ported by powerful combination, but tho
nomination of Mckinley as against the
field was Inevitable.
The campaign he made will be always
memorable In our political annals.
The Verdict OF History.
when he came TO the presidency ne was
confronted by a situation Of the utmost
difficulty, which might well have appalled,
Il man of less serene and tranquil sell
confidence. a man either weak or rash,
either irresolute or headstrong, might have
brought ruin on himself and incalculablc
harm to the country i believe that the
verdict OF history Will be that he met al
the grave questions with perfect valoi
ana ulcOlNuGIdDlc uDlllly ina In Crap
ping with them he rose to the full height
of a great occasion in n manner which
~reboundcd TO the lasting benefit of the
country and to his immortal honor.
In dealing with foreign powers, he will
take rank with the greatest Of our diplo-
matists. 1t was a world OF which he had
little special knowledge before coming &c
the presidency. But his marvellous adapt
ability was in nothing more remarkable
than in the firm grasp he immediately
displayed In international relations. BY
patience, by firmness, By sheer reason.
ableness, he improved our understanding
with all the great powers Of the world
and rightfully gained the blessing which
belonged 10 the p~eacemakers.
There is not one of US but feels proudel
of his native land because the august
figure of Washington presided over its
beginning; no one but vows II q tenderer
love because Lincoln poured out his blood
from it; no one but must feel his deyo-
ton for his country renewed and kindled
when he remembers how Mckinley loved
revered and served II, showed in his life
how a citizen should live and In his last
hour taught US how Il gentleman could
die