The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1902-02-28
TIL THE MEMORY OF
M'K|NLEY.
Continued from First Page.)

chivalrous King of Italy who only lived
For his people? and saddest of all, that
lovely and sorrowing Empress whose
harmless life could hardly have excited
the animosity of a demon Against that
devlish spirit nothing avails-neither
virtue, nor patriotism, nor age nor
youth, nor conscience nor pity. We can
not even say that education is a suffi-
ffent safeguard against this baleful evil
for most of the wretches whose crimes
have so shocked humanity in recent
years are men not unlettered, who have
gone from the common schools, through
murder, TO the scaffold.
Our minds cannot discern the origin
for conceive the extent of wickedness so
lcrverse and so cruel; but this does not
exempt US from the duty of trying 10 con-
troll and counterfeit it. We do NOT under
stand what electricity is; whence it
comes or what it's hidden properties may
DC. But we know it as a mighty force for
good or evl-and so with the painful toll
of years, men of learning and skill have
labored to store and subjugate it, to
EeutraliZe, and even to employ it's des-
tructive energies. This problem of an
archy Is dark and intricate, but II ought
to be within the compass of democratic
overnmcnt-although no sane mind can
fathom the mysteries of these untra cked
snd orbitless natures-to guard against
their alterations, to take away from them
the hope of escape, the long luxury of
scandalous lays in court, the unwhole-
some sympathy of hySterical degenerates.
and so by degrees to make the crime not
worth committing, even to these abnor
NAL and distorted souls.
1t would be presumptuous for me in
this presence to suggest the details OF
remedial legislation for a malady so ma
egnart. That task may safely he left to
The skill and patience of the National
Congress, which has never been found
unequal to any such emergency The
country believes that the memory of
three murdered comrades OF yours-all of
whose voices still haunt these walls-will
be sufficient inspiration to enable you
to solve even this abtruse and painful
problem, which has dimmed so many
pages of history with blood and with
tears
Before an audience less sympathetic
than this, l should not dare to speak OF
that great career which we have met to
commemorate. But we are all his
friends, and friends do not criticise
each others words about an open grave
] thank you for the honor you have done
me in inviting me here, and not less for
the kind forbearance l know I shall have
from You in my most inadequate efforts
to speak CT him worthily.
A TYPICAL. AMERICAN.
The life of William Mckinley was
from his birth to his DEATH typically
should say. anywhere else in the world
which could produce just such charac-
ter. He was born in that way of life
which elsewhere is called the middle
class, but which in this country is Sc
nearly universal as to make of Other
classes an almost negligible quantity. HI
was neither rich nor poor, neither proud
nor humble; he knew no hunger he wa!
not sure of satisfying, no luxury which
could enervate mind or body His par
cnts were sober, Godfearing people; in
tclligent and upright; without pretensiol
and without humility. He grew up in tn
company of boys like himself; whole
some, honest, respecting. The.
locked down ON nobody: they never fel
it possible they could be looked dowl
upon. Their houses were the homes o
probity, piety. patriotism They learne,
in the admirable school readers of fit.
years ago the lessons of heroic and splen
did life which have come down from TIL
past. They read in their weekly news
papers the story OF the worlds progress
in which they were eager to take part
and of the sins and wrongs of civiliza
tion with which they burned to do battle
1t was a serious and thoughtful time. TIL
Toys of that day felt dimly. but deeply
that days of sharp struggle and higl
achievement were before them. The.
looked at life with the wondering we
resolute eyes of young esquire in hi
vigil of arms. They felt a time wa!
coming when to them should be address
ed the stern admonition of the Apostle
Quit you like men; be strong"
1t is not easy to give to those of a late
generation any clear idea of that extra.
ordinary spiritual awakening whic!
Tassed over the country at the first rec
signal fires of the war between the
States. 1t was not our earliest apoca
lypse: a hundred years before, the nation
bad been revealed TO ITSELF when after
long discussion and much searching OF
heart the people of the colonies had re.
solved that to live without liberty wa:
worse than to die, and had therefore
wagered in the solemn game of war 'thei
lives their fortunes and their sacret
honor" In a stress OF heat and labo
unutterable, the country had been ham
rered and welded together; but there
after for nearly century there had beer
nothing IN our life to touch the inner
most fountain of feeling and devotion
we had had rumors of wars-even war
we had had, not without sacrifices an
Elory-but nothing which went TO tn
vital self-consciousness of the country
nothing which challenged the nation
right to live. But in 1860 the nation wa
going down into the Valley of Decision
The question hich had been debated o
thousands of platforms, which had bee
discussed in countless publications, which
Numbered from innumerable pulpits. ha
caused in their congregations the bite
strife and dissension to which only case
of conscience can give rise, was every
where pressing for solution. And no
merely in the various channels of pub
Lefty was it alive and clamorous. Abou
every fireside in the land, in the CONVEX
saton of friends and neighbors, anC
deeper still, in the depths of millions G
human hearts the battle of opinion wa
- xat