The Guthrie daily leader. [volume] (Guthrie, Okla.) 1893-1996, 1902-02-27

Eligible quantity He was neither ricn
nor poor-neither proud nor humble
ne knew no hunger he was not sure
of satisfying. no luxury which could
eneyyate mind or body.
His parents were sober God-fearine
people: intelligent and upright; with
.cut preteatons and without humility
He grew up in The company of boys
like himself wholesome. honest. self
ryIpeciing. They looked down on
nobody. they never fe;t ft possible
they could be looked down upon
Their houses were the homes of
probity piety. patriotism They learn
cd il the admi.a able school readers of
fifty years ago the lessons Of heroic
end splendid life which have come
down from the past They read in
heir weekly newspapers the story Of
,nc worlds progress. in which ,hey
were eager to take part and OF the
sins and wrongs of civilization. with
whicl they burned to do battle It
was serious and thoughtful time.
The boys OF that day felt dimly, but
deeply that days of sharp struggle and
high achievement were before them
They looked at life with the wonder
ing ye. resolute eyes of young
esquire in his vigil Of arms. They
felt time was coming when to them
should be addressed the stern admon
ition Of the apostle quit you like
men; be strong
At seventeen years Of age William
Mckinley heard the summons of his
country. He was the sort OF youth to
whom a military life in ordinary times
would possess no attractions. His
nature was far different fom that of
the ordinary soldier He HAD other
dreams OF life. lis prizes and pleas
ures. than that of marches and battles.
But TO his mind there was no choice
or question. The banner floating in
the morning breeze was the beckon-
ing gesture Of his country. Tlc thrill
ing notes of the trumpet called him
him and none other-injo the ranks.
He was of the stuff of which good sol
diers are made. Had he been ten
years older he would have entered at
he head Of a company and come out
at the head Of a division. lie did what
he could. He enlisted as private; he
learned TO obey His serious. sensi-
BILE ways his prompt. alert efficiency
soon attracted the attention of his
superiors He was so faithful in lit
tie things that they gave him more
and more TO do. He was untiring in
camp and on the march; swift, cool,
and fearless in fight. He left the
army with field rank when the war
ended, breyetted by President Lincoln
or gallantry in battle.
william Mckinley gladly laid down
his sword and betook himself TO his
books. He quickly made up the time
lost in soldering. He was admitted to
the bar and settled down to practice
a brevetted veteran of twenty four
in the quiet town of Canton, now and
henceforward forever famous as the
scene Of his life and his place Of
sepulchec. Here many blessings await
ed him: high repute professional sue
cess, and a domestic affection so pure.
so devoted and stainless mat future
poets seeking an ideal or Christian
will find in It a theme wor
thy of their songs.
In 1876 he began by an election to
his political career. There
after for fourteen years this chamber
was his home
He was a Republican, he could not
be anytime else
Following the natural bent of his
mind, he devoted himself to questions
Of finance and revenue, to the essen |
tlals Of the national housekeeping. He
took high rank in 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 overwhelm I.
ing. He came to ill space in the pub /
lie eye which obscured a great portion 4
OF the field OF vision In two national I.
the presidency seemed
within his reach. But he had gone .
there in the interests or others and .
his honor forbade any dalliance with .
SO his nay was nay-de (
llvered with tone and gesture there
was no denying His hour was not .
vet come