Missouri Valley times. [volume] (Missouri Valley, Iowa) 1874-1931, 1902-03-06
Phenomenal Political career.

In 1876 he began by an election to con,
grcss, his political career Thereafter
Tor fourteen years this chamber was his
home.
He was republican, he could not he
anything else,
Following the natural bent OF his mind,
he devoted himself to questions of finance
and revenue, to the essentials of the ma
tional housekeeping. He took high rank
In the house from tho beginning.
A year after he left congress he was
made governor of ohio and two years
later he was reelected, each time by
majority unhoped for and Overwhelming.
He came to fill II space In the public eye
which obscured great portion of the
field of vision In two national convcn-
lions the presidency seemed within his
reach. But he had gone there In the In
forests Of others and his honor forbade
any d;illance with temptation. SO his
nay WAS nay delivered with a tone and
gesture there was no detNinR His hour
There was. however, no long delay. iie
became. nom year to year. tie most prom
inent politician and orator in the cotiii-
try. l'assionately devoted To the prin"i-
pies of the party he was always ready
TO do anything, TO 20 anywhere, TO pro-
claim its ideas and To support its candi-
date, For several months lefore the re-
publican national convention met In 1886
II vas evident to all who had eyes 10 see
that MIR. Mckinley was the only probable
candidate of his party. Other names were
mentioned of the highest rank in ability
character and popularity. they were sup
ported by powerful combination, but the
nomination of MclaElley as against the
field Was inevitable
The campaign he made viii he always
memorable in our political annals.
The Verdict OF History.
When he came To The presidency ne was
confronted by a situation of the utmost
difficulty, which miaht we'll have appalled,
II man of less serene and tranquil self
confidence. A man either weak or RASH
either irrcsolutc or headstrotg. might have
brought ruin on himself and ncalculable
harm to the country. believe that the
verdict of history Will he that he met all
the grave questions with perfect valor
and unconaucrable ability; that in Crap
pling with them he rose TO the fun height
OF Il great occasion In manner which
rebounded TO the lasting benefit of the
In dealing with foreign powers. he will
take rank with the greatest of our diplo-
matists, II was "A world of which he bad
little special knowledge before coming 10
the presidency, l;ut his marvellous adapt
ability WAS in nothing more remarkable
than in the firm grasp he Immediately
displayed Ia International relations ~
patience, by irlnness by sheer reason
ableHeSs he improved our understanding
with all III" great powers of tbe world.
and iishtfuliS gained the blessing which
belonged 10 the peaccnakcrs.
There is no, one of us but feels prouder
Of his native land because the august
figure of Washington presided over its
beginning; 10 one but vo@s Ii ~ tcndarer
love because Lincoln poured out his blood
from II. no one but must feel his deVo-
ton for his country renewed and kindled
when he remembers how Nick inley loved
revered and served it, showed In his life
how IL citizen should live and i'm his last
hour taught us how a gentleman could
die