The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1902-02-27


nor conscience nor pity. We can not even
say that education is a sufficient safe
Of the Wretches WHOSE crimes have SO
shocked humanity in recent years are men
common schools. through murder, TO the
seA-A PROBLEM OF ANARCHY.
Our minds can not discern the origin
nor conceive the extent of wickedness so
exempt US from the duty of trying to
control and counterfeit it We do not IN
comes or what its hidden properties may
be- But we know It as a mighty force
toll of years. men of learning and skill
have labored to store and TO subjugate it
to neutralize. and even to employ its de-
structive energies This problem or an
archy is dark and intricate. but it ought
to be within the compass of democratic
observation-disclosures no sane mind can
fathom the mysteries of these untracked
their alterations, to take away from them
the hope of escape, the long luxury of
Some svmDatly of historical degenerates.
and so by degrees to make the crime not
worth committing. even to these abnormal
and distorted souls
It would be presumptuous for me in this
presence to suggest the details of remedial
legislation for a malady so malignant
That task may safely be left to the skill
which has never been found unequal to
any such emergency. The country believes
that the memory of three murdered COM
rades of yours-au OF whose voices still
haunt these waIls-win- be sufficient in
abtruse. and painful problem. which has
dimmed 50 many pages of history with
Before an audience less sympa thetfct than
this. I should not dare speak Of that great
rate But we are all his friends. and
friends do not criticiSe each others words
honor you have done me in inviting me
here, and not less for the kind fOrbearancs
know I shall have from You in my most
inadequate efforts to speak OF him worth
--r-, rte 80 xx-;r1s,,, lr,1-=v,1,x- xx-sS from,
his birth to his death. typically American
There is environment. 1 should say.
anywhere else in the world which could
produce just such a character He was
born into that way of life which else
in this country is so nearly universal as
to make of other classes an almost negli-
poor: neither proud nor humble; he knew
no hunger he was not sure OF satisfying,
body. His parents were sober. GOd-fearing
people: intelligent and upright; without
up in the company of boys like himself;
wholesome, honest, self-reSpecting. They
it possible they could be looked down up
on. Their houses We're the homes of prob
adrnira bic school readers of fifty years ago
the lessons of heroic and splendid life
They read in their weekly newspapers the
story of the worlds progress, in which
sins and wrongs Of civilization with which
they burned TO do battle. 1t was a serious
day felt dimly. but deeply. that days of
sharp struggle and high achievement were
wondering yet resoIute eyes of a young
esquire in his vigil of arms They felt
be addressed the stern admonition of the
apostle, Quit you like men: be strong
1t is not easy to give to those of a later
generation any clear idea of that eXtraor-
over the country at the first red signal
fires of the war between the states; 1t was
years before the nation had been revealed
TO itself. when after long discussion and
colonies had resolved that to live without
liberty was worse than to die. and had
war their lives, their fortunes and their
sacred honor" In a stress of heat and
hammered and welded together; but there
after for nearly a century there had been
fountain of feeling and devotion, We had
had rUmOrs of wars-eVen wars We had
nothing which went to the vital self-con-
seriousness OF the country. nothing which
challenged the nations right TO live But
in 1850 the nation was going down into the
Valley of Decision. The question which
forms. which had been discussed in count
less publications. which. Numbered from
congregations the bitter strife and dissen-
sion TO which only cases of conscience can
luton. And not merely in the various
channels of publicity was it alive and
land in the conversation of friends and
neighbors. and, deeper still, In the secret
opinion was wa ging. and all men felt and
saw-With more or less clearneSS-that an
the nation live? was due and not TO be
denied And 1 do not mean that in the
ling with conscience In the south as well.
below all the efferveScence and excitement
quent speech than we were there was the
profound agony of question and answer;
freedom did not call them 10 revolution
and war It is easy for partisanship to
say that the one side was right and that
the other was wrong II IS stun easier ZOE
an indOlent magnaniTn1ty TO say that botn
were right Perhaps in the wide view of
ethics one Is always right 70 IoAoW ms
conscience. though 1t lead him to disaster
aIles no account of sentiment and inten-
ton; and in her cold and luminous eyes
mony with the stars in their courses The
men are right through whose efforts and
struggles the world is helped onward and
humanity moves to a higher level and a
McKINLEY HEARD THE SUMMONS.
The men who are living today and who
were young in 1860 viii never forget the
glory and glarloT that nlled the earth sIld
the sky when the long twilight OF doubt
and uncertainty was ending and the time
o. ACTON Htu come a sLseSl " III =
nam Lincoln was an event nor only OF
high moral significance. but OF far-reach-
company by Ellsworth attracted national
attention: the ffuttering Of the flag in the
clear sky drew tears from the eyes OF
young men, Patriotism which had been
rhetorical expression. became passionate
emotion in which instinct. logic. and feel
ing were fused The country was worth
saving it could be saved only by fire; no
sacrifice was too great; the young men OF
the country were ready for the sacrifice;
come veal. come woe. they were ready
At II years OF age William Mckinley
heard this summons of his country He
was the sort Of youth to whom a military
life in ordinary times would possess no
attra crionS. His nature was far different
from that Of the ordinary soldier He had
other dreams of life. its prizes and pleas
ures. than that of marches and battles
But to his mind there choice or
question. The banner floating in the
morning breeze was the beck0ning ges-
ture of his country. The thrilling notes
others-into the ranks His portrait in
his first uniform is familiar to you all
the short, srocky figure: the quiet though