The Princeton union. [volume] (Princeton, Minn.) 1876-1976, 1902-03-06
THE PRINCETON UNION. THURSDAY, MARCH 6. 1909
M'KINIEY MEMoRI4L ADDRESS.

] PRINCETON u Won
M'KINLEY MEMORIAL ADDREss.
The address Of Secretary John Hay,
at the congressional memorial exer-
cises last Thursday, in memory of the
late President Mckinley, was splen-
did tribute to the life work and charac-
ter of the third of the martyred
presidents. Secretary Hay was we'll
qualified to speak Of the late president
and his connection with recent Ameri-
can history. Mr.. Hay showed what a
simple and what grand achievement
it was for an American citizen in the
humble walks of life to be made the
chief executive of great nation. He
showed how typically American was
the life of William Mckinley, and how
loyal he was to his country and its in
situations. @
In speaking of the sectional feeling
during and after the civil war, Mr..
Hay said: i
'Perhaps in the wide view of ethics
one is always right to follow his con-
science though it lead him to disaster
and death. But history is memorable.
She takes no account of sentiment and
intentions; and in her cold and lumin-
Gus eyes that side is right which fights
in harmony with the stars in their
courses. The men are right through
whose efforts and struggles the world
is helped onward and humanity moves
to higher level and brighter day.
We may admire the desperate daring
Of others who prefer annihilation. to
compromise, but the palm of common
sense, and, I will say, Of enlightened
patriotism, belongs to the men like
Grant and Lee, who knew when thew
had fought enough, for honor and for
country" 'Ss*=-
Mr.. Hay spoke of the marvellous
growth of our government since the
civil war, and more especially of that
portion of our growth with which the
public life of William Mckinley was
associated. Coming up to the time
when William Mckinley was making
preparations to leave for the Pan
American exposition, Mr.. Hay thus
pictures the man: y Z
HE felt that the harvest time was
come to garner in the fruit of so much
planting and culture, and he was de-
termined that nothing he might do or
say should be liable to the reproach
of personal interest. Let US say
frankly he was a party man; he be-
lieved the politics advocated by him
and his friends counted for much in
the country's progress and prosperity.
He hoped in his second term to accom-
plish substantial results in the devel-
opment and affirmation of those poll
cies. spent a day with him shortly
before he started on his fateful journey
to Buffalo. Never had I seen him
higher in hope and patriotic conf
dence. He was as sure of the future of
his country as the Psalmist who cried:
"Glorious things are spoken of thee,
thou city of Cod" He. was gratifed
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 argosies of the
world passing through it in peace and
amity. He saw in the immense evolu-
ton of American trade the ful6llment
of all his dreams, the reward of all his
labors. He was-I need not say-an
ardent protectionist, never more sin
cere and devoted than during those
last days of his life. -,
''In that mood of high hope, of gen.
erous expectation, he went to Buffalo,
and there, on the threshold of eternity,
he delivered that memorable speech,
worthy for its loftiness of tone, it's
blameless morality, it's breadth of view,
to be regarded as his testament to the
nation. Through all his pride of coun-
try and his joy of it's success runs the
note of solemn warning, as in Kipling's
noble hymn, Least We Forget.'''
The secretary then read portion of
the Buffalo speech of the late presi-
dent, showing the necessity of more
liberal foreign trade policy. Mr.. Hay
says:
'His years of apprenticeship had
been served. He stood that day past
master of the art of craftsmanship. He