The bee., 1902-03-06

its ideas and to support its candidates.
His face and his voice became familiar to
millions Of our people, and wherever they
were seen and heard men became his par
tisans. His face was cast in a classic
mold You see faces like II in antique
marble in the galleries of the Vatican
and In the portraits Of the great cardinal
statesmen OF Italy. His voice was Ine
voice Of the perfect orator-ringing, VI
brating. tireless, persuading by its very
sound. by its accent Of sincere conviction.
So prudent and so guarded were all his
utterances, SO lofty his courtesy, that he
never embarrassed his friends and never
offended his opponents. For several
months before the Republican national
convention met in 1896 1t was evident to
all who had eyes to see that Mr.. McKin-
ley was the only probable candidate of
his party. Other names were mentioned
of the highest rank in ability, character
and popularity, they were supported by
powerful combinations, but the nomina-
tion of Mckinley as against the field was
inevitable.
The campaign he made will be always
memorable in our political annals. He
and his friends had thought that the issue
for the year ws.s the distinctive and his
toric difference between the two parties
on the subject of the tariff. To this
wager of battle the discussions of the pre-
no sooner had the two parties made their
nomination than IL became evident that
the opposing candidate declined to accept
the field Of discussion chosen by the Re
publicans and proposed to put forward as
the main issue the free coinage of silver.
Mckinley at once accepted this challenge
and, taking the battle for protection as
already won. went with energy into the
discussion of the theories presented by
his opponents. Ho had wisely concluded
not to leave his home during the canvass,
thus avoiding n proceeding which has al
ways been of sinister augury in our poll
tics, but from the front porch of his mod
est house in Canton he daily addressed
the delegations, which came from every
part Of the country to greet him, in Sc
ries of speeches so strong so varied, so
pertinent, so full of facts briefly set FORTH
of theories embodied in a single phrase,
that they formed the hourly text for the
other speakers OF his party and give prob
ably the most convincing proof we have
of his surprising fertility of resource and
flexibility of mind. All this was done
without anxiety or strain. l remember a
day 1 spent with him during that busy
summer. He had made nineteen speeches
the day before: that day he made many.
But in the intervals Of these addresses he
sat in his study and talked with nerves
as quiet and a mind as free from care as
if we had been spending a holiday at the
seaside or among the hills.
AS PRESIDENT.
When he came to the presidency. he
confronted a situation of the utmost diffi-
Guilty. which might well have appalled, n
man Of less serene and tranquil self con-
fidence. There had been a state of pro-
found commercial and Industrial depres-
sion, from which his friends had said his
election would relieve the country. Our
relations with the outside world left much
to bo desired. The feeling between the
northern and southern sections of the
Union was lacking in the cordiality which
was necessary TO the welfare OF both.
Hawaii had asked for annexation and
had been rejected by the preceding ad-
ministration. There was a state OF things
in the Caribbean which could not perma-
nently endure. Our neighbor's house was
on fire, and there were grave doubts as to
our rights and duties in the premises A
man either weak or rash, either irresolute
or headstrong, might have brought ruin
on himself and incalculable harm to the
country.
Again crave the pardon of those who
differ with me II. against all my inten-
tions, happen to say a word which may
seem to them unbefitting the place and
hour. But 1 am here to give the opinion
which his friends entertained of President
Mckinley, of course claiming no immuni-
ty from criticism in what 1 shall say. l
believe, then, that the verdict Of history
will be that he met all these grave ques-
tions with perfect valor and Incompatible
ability; that in graphing with them he
rose to the fun height CT great occasion
in manner which redounded to the last
ing benefit of the country and TO his own
immortal honor.
The least desirable form of glory to a
man of his habitual mood and temper,
that Of successful war, was nevertheless
conferred upon him by uncomfortable
events. He felt it must come lie de-
plored its necessity. He strained almost
to breaking his relations with his friends
in order, first, to prevent and then TO
postpone 1t to the latest possible moment.
But when the die was cast he labored
with tho utmost energy and ardor and
with an intelligence in military matters
which showed how much of the soldier
still survived In the mature statesman to
push forward the war to a decisive close.
War was an anguish to him. He wanted
it short and conclusive. His merciful
zeal communicated itself to his subordi-
mates. and the war. so long dreaded,
whose consequences were SO momentous,
ended in a hundred days.
"AUGMENTER OF THE STATE"
Mr.. Stedman, the dean of our poets, has
called him "Augmenter Of the State" 1t
Is a proud title. If justly conferred, 1t
ranks him among the few whose names
may be placed definitely and forever in
charge Of the historic muse. Under his
rule Hawaii has come to us. and Tutuila,
Porto Rico and the vast archipelago Of
the east. Cuba is free. Our position in
the Caribbean is assured beyond the pos
sibillty of future question. The doctrine
called by the name of Monroe, so long
derided and denied by allen publlcists,
when uttered to the world. 1t has become
an international truism. Our sister re-
publics to the south of US are convinced
that we desire only their peace and pros
perity. Europe knows that we cherish no
dreams but those OF worldwide commerce,
the benefit of which shall be to all ma
tions. The state is augmented, but 1t
threatens no nation under heaven. As to
those regions which have come under the
shadow OF our flag, the possibility of their
being damaged by such a change of cir
cumstances was I'm the view of Mckinley
a thing unthinkable. To believe that we
could not administer them to their adj
vantage was to turn infidel to our Ameri-
can faith OF more than hundred years.
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 to
the presidency, but his marvellous adapta-
bility was I'm 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
naacp he was alilxa adrOit c0urtpOus and