Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1902-02-04

lit was the climax of sorrow, and the
picture OF it will go with me to my
dying day.
He was admitted to the bar in 1867,
and began the practice of the law in
Canton. The period intervening be-
tween that time and his election to
congress in 1875 is notable for but one
event-his marriage; and this only be-
cause his devotion to the lovely COM
panion of his life has become the en-
bodiment, the highest exemplification
| of human affection the world over.
For fourteen years he was member
of the house of representatives He
became the leader of congress and OF
the party to which he belonged, not so
much because Providence had endow-
ed him with more powerful intellect
than those who surrounded him, but
because he had learned one lesson
which every boy and every girl and
every man and every woman ought
speedily to learn if it is not already
the model of their existence. He knew
and acted upon the knowledge that in
the vast range of learning and ire
mendous scope of public questions, a
man could not master all the learning
nor answer all the questions. He be-
lieved and acted upon the belief that
to be be great and helpful and power
full, man must know some one thing
better than anyone else knew it; and
and that the world was always on the
lookout for such a man. He chose for
his especial study one of the most diff
ficult, as we'll as one of the most con-
troverted subjects of his time; and he
mastered it absolutely, SO that before
many years had passed over his con-
gressional career, William Mckinley
knew more about the productive ca
pacity of the United States, more
about the conditions under which Ia
Dor earned its wage and capital its re-
turn, more about the possibilities of
our magnificent future, than any 9TH
er man in America. l do not Suggest
that he was either ignorant or unmind-
full of other things, but he had the fore
sight to perceive the vital truth of the
period, and the courage to enforce it,;
and it was this foresight and courage
) that made him President of the Unit
! ed States and which endeared him to
the members of the party to which he
) belonged as no other man ever was.
He was defeated for speaker, but
{ became chairman of the committee on
. ways and means, and those who
/ thwarted his ambition "builded better
! than they knew" and although he
: knew it not, this adversely opened tt
o him the doors of the widest opportun
|. ity into which mortal man ever trod
h He probaly did not, but he well nigh
O have thought, as he stood in the gloon
,. of failure
s "And behind the dim unknown
g. Standeth God within the shadow,
J. Keeping watch above His own"
n A change in his congressional dis
) trict, rather than diminution of an.
a confidence in him, rendered his re
10 turn to congress impossible, and h.
II became governor of Ohio; and though
removed from national activity, h
q grew in favor until in 1895 he was tn
" almost unanimous choice of the reput
"a licans of the United States for Pres
n dent.
,e The four years and half durin
" which he occupied the highest offic
e. known to the institutions of societ
is were in many respects the most even
b, full years of the nations history II
Of took the oath which made him Pres
is dent amid profound national peace an
Of profound commercial depression. Frol
e. that moment the skies of Industry b.
ze gan to brighten, and within an incret
It, IDLY brief time the whole country wa
I'd clothed with radiance of prosperit
d. unparalleled and unequaled in the hi
e. tory of man. Within a year the cloud
n of war filled all the Heavens, and slo
It, as he was, reluctant as he was, I
al take up the sword, when once it flas
d, ed the lightnings played with ince
s; SAINT CLEAN until peace again reigne
st in the land. yield to no man in a
no miration for all that Mckinley ha
do done in the years preceding the Spa
go ish war. He earned the crown that
ly wore, and it was brilliant with Il
n rare jewels which always sparkle
"a the diadem of the highest represent
at tive of a free people; but the yea
by which interviewed between the close
M the Spanish war and his death are Il
nd years which developed and eXhibitt
cir a serene greatness, true heart, {
Is. unselfish patriotism, tender persis
tn ence more wonderful than the wor
he had ever before seen.
'eS We haQ enCeroQ upon new pat
nd and, although it was path of glor
10 it was dark and obscure. 1t was
ne strange country into which we hi
gone, and We were full of fear and a
TO- prehension. 1t was through this pa
10 and this country that God sent w
as liam Mckinley to lead us; and | a
40. sober-minded when / say that the
.h- was not another man in all the repr
IN lie whom the people would have fl
W. lowed so trustfully and confidently
ed this man whose memory is now fillil
Int our hearts. / do not know why it
ars SO, but We gave him our noble fai
aa' as it had never been given to Pre-
lde dent of the United States. We we
my following him and trusting him,
:, joicing that we We're beginning to S
me light beyond, when he was strick
= Il; down, stricken by cruel, sensele
leu hand that sought not his life, but
inc life of the government. | do not DIV
no, upon the foul deed which made "
req liam Mckinley martyr and all