The Forrest City times., 1902-03-07
TRIBUTE TO MCKINLEY.
Eloquent Eulogy of the Dead StatesmAn Delivered by Hon. Charles
 Emory smith.

ory of the late President William Me kinley was honored by the legisla- ture of the state yesterday. The ex- ercises were held in the assembly chamber. and were presided over by Gov. Odell. Seated on the platform were United States Senator Thomas C. Platt and the members of the leg islative committee which arranged for the exercises. The chamber was appropriately decorated.
 The opening prayer was delivered by Rt. Rev. William Croswell Doane. Protestant Episcopal bishop of Al bany, and the closing benediction was pronounced by Rt. Rev. T. M. A. Burke, Roman Catholic bishop of All bany. The choir of All Saints Pro- testant Episcopal cathedral rendered the music.
 Gov. Odell introduced the speaker of the evening, Hon. Charles Emory Smith, formerly postmaster general. The address was careful review of the eventful life of the late presi dent, dwelling upon his career us sol dier, lawyer and statesman, with more than passing reference to his home life and eloquent tribute to his noble qualities as son and husband.
 Mir. Smith said in part:
 ''As long as he lived he was the guiding star of whole brave nation, and when he died the little children cried in the streets"
 So wrote Motley of William the Great. Prince of Orange, who en- larged a republic and fell under the hand of an assassin. So may we speak of the dead president. who, by cruel fate, was slain within the borders of your state. and whose memory you are assembled to honor. Thrice has our country been called to mourn a murdered president. The hot passions engendered by civil strife impelled the first blow The alteration of disturbed brain, dis torted by a perverted view of parti- san contention, struck the second. The third came in an hour of pro- found calm, at time of universal good feeling, and it was aimed, not in any disordered frenzy at the gen tie individual, but with cool and stealthy design, from the lair of turk ing anarchy, at the head of the state. The first two left helpless sorrow, the third leaves a relentless duty"
 In his review of the Mckinley ad- ministration of the presidency Mir. Smith dwelt upon the stirring days which preceded the Spanish war, and declared that the country did not yet know the full extent of the effort made by President Mckinley to save Cuba and at the same time avert the war. But his efforts were not met with the same ingenious spirit, said the speaker, and the mighty issues hastened to their deadly grapple, and the war was on.
 Continuing, Mir. Smith passed quick ly over the exciting hundred days of war to the equally grave and serious questions that faced the administra- tion in negotiating terms of peace and settling the momentous ques- tions of territorial acquisition. Of the settlement of these issues, Mir. Smith said:
 ''ln this conflict of opposing views the president had no real guide but his own sure instinct and his own sense of duty. In reaching his con- clusion there was one controlling force. The one overmastering infiu- ence in deciding his course was his profound conviction of duty to the rude peoples whom the course of events had placed in our keeping. He felt that to abandon them under such circumstances would be recreancy to a sacred trust.
 His, then. was the authority, his the responsibility. his the decision in what was a turning point in Amer ican history, and a new epoch in the course of civilization. If there had been nothing else, this great act alone was sufficient to give him a sure niche in the temple of fame.
 We do not undertake to pass upon the questions of the future, but what ever may be it's course it is certain that the freedom which has spread us Siorlous hght m the Philippine islands can never be dimmed It was William Mckinley who lifted them out of the thraldom and darkness of 300 years, into the liberty and en- lightenment of the twentieth century and, whatever the vicissitude of cir cumstances. it is sure that in the coming time the millions of dark visaged and disenthralled people and their tens of millions of descendants will recognize him as the blacks of America recognize Lincoln"
 In conclusion, Mir. Smith said:
 If his work was not finished, it was so far advanced and so we'll marked out that it only remains to follow the pathway he blazed. His achievements and his impress are sure and indelible. We lament our personal loss. The republic mourns he president best beloved of all xvhila