The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1902-03-06


country is so nearly universal as to
make of other classes an almost neg
ligible quantity. He was neither rich
nor poor, neither proud nor humble;
he knew no hunger he was not sure
of satisfying, no luxury which could
enervate mind or body. His parents
were sober, God-fearing people; in
telligent and upright, without pre-
tension and without humility. He
grew up in the company of boys like
himself; wholesome, honest, self-re-
speeding. They looked down on no.
body; they never felt it possible they
could be looked down upon. Their
houses were the homes of probity,
piety, patriotism. They learned in
the admirable school readers of fifty
years ago the lessons of heroic and
splendid life which have come down
from the past. They read in their
weekly newspapers the story of the
worlds progress, in which they were
eager to take part, and of the sins
and wrongs of civilization with which
they burned to do battle. 1t was a
serious and thoughtful time. The
boys of that day felt dimlY, but deep
ly that days of sharp struggle and
high achievement were before them.
They looked at life with the wonder
ing yet resolute eyes of young es-
quire in his vigil of arms. They felt
a time was coming when to them
should be addressed the stern admo-
milton of the Apostle, Quit you like
men; be strong"
Mr.. Hay then reviewed Mr.. McKin-
ley's life from his entrance into the
army and politics up to his election
to the Presidency, and proceeded:
THE men who are living today and
who were young in 1860 will never
forget the glory and glamour that
filled the earth and the sky when the
long twilight of doubt and uncertain
ty was ending and the time of action
had come. A speech by Abraham
Lincoln was an event not only of high
moral significance, but of far-reach-
ing Importance; the drilling of a mill
tia company by Ellsworth attracted
national attention, the huttering of
the flag in the clear sky drew tears
from the eyes of young men. Patriot
ism, which had been a rhetorical ex-
preston, became a passionate emo
ton, 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.
I'VE may admire the desperate dar-
ing of others who prefer humiliation
to compromise, but the palm of COM
mon sense, and | will say, of enlight-
ened patriotism, belongs to the IL EN-
like Grant and Lee, who knew when
they had fought enough, for honor
and for country.
when he came to the Presidency
he confronted a situation of the ut
most difficulty, which might well
have appalled, man of less serene and
tranquil self-confidence. There had
been state of profound commercial
and industrial depression, from which
his friends had said his election would
relieve the country. Our relations
with the outside world left much to
be desired. The feeling between the
Northern and Southern sections of
the Union was lacking in the cordial
lty which was necessary to the well
fare of both. Hawaii had asked for
annexation and had been rejected by
the preceding Administration. There
was state of things in the Carrib-
/ bean which could not permanently
endure. Our neighbours house was
on fire, and there was 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 in
calculable harm to the country.
Again | crave the pardon of those
who differ with me, if, against all my
intentions, happen to say word
which may seem to them unbefitting
the place and hour. But am here
to give the opinion which his friends
entertained of President Mckinley,
of course claiming no immunity from
criticism in what shall say. be-
lieve, then, that the verdict of his
tory will be that he met all these
grave questions with perfect valor
and Incompatible ability; that in
graphing with them he rose to the
full height of great occasion, in a
manner which redounded to the last
ing benefit of the country and to his
own immortal honor. y
Under his rule Hawaii has come
to us, and Tutulia; Porto Rico and
the vast archipelago of the East.
| Cuba is free. Our position in the