Oxford eagle. (Oxford, Lafayette Co., Miss.) 1876-current, 1902-03-06

the middle eiass. but which in this country
is 80 nearly universal as to make N other
classes an almost negligible quantity. He
WIS neither rich nor poor neither proud
nor humble. be knew no hunger he was not
sure OF satisfying. no luxury which could
snervare mind or body. His parents Wera
sober. God-fearing people, intelligent and
upright. without prstension 1nd without
humility He grew up IN the company OF
boys Ike himself; Wholesome. honest. self
respecting. They looked down on uubudv:
they never felt Il posi- Biz. they could Be
looked down upon. Their houses were the
homes Of prubity. piety. pHrri0tism. They
learned in the admirable school readers OF
- years agn The lessons Of heroic ard splen-
did LIE which have come down from the
past They read IN their weekly newspa-
pers the story Of the world ; urugress in
wnieh they were eager to take part and Of
the strs and wrongs OF civilization with
which they burned 70 Go battle. L was 4
serious and thoughtful time
Early Influences.
l. is not easy to give 10 those OF a later
generation any clear idea Of that extraor-
Ginary spiritual awakening which passed.
over the country n the first red sigma tires
OF the war between the states. In 1866 tie
naIun was going down intD the Valley OF
Decision The question which had been
Debated on thousands Of platforms. which
l'Ad been discussed in countless pubIica-
Ions. Wllcn. numbered from .nnumeraoie
pulplts. had caused IN their congregations
the bitter strife and GIsssnsiuu To which
only cases Of conscience can give rise. was
In the south well. below al the ef-
fsrvescerce and excitement OF a ueopIe
perhaps more given tn eloquent speech
than We were. there was the profound
agony OF question and answer. the sum
mons 70 decide whether honor and free
dom DID not call them to revolution and
war X - easy Tor partisan snip 10 say that
the one side was right and that the other
was wrong Il IS sf1i easier fur an indoiert
nlagnanimtty 20 say that both were right
Perhaps n the wide view Of ethics ore IS al
WAYS right 70 follow his conscience. though
II lead him 20 disaster and DEATH Bur his
tory Is tnexBrahle- She takes no account
OF sentiment and intention. and in her cold
ard luminous eyes that side is right WHICH
fights IN harmony with the stars in their
courses The men are right through whose
euCrtS and struggles the world is helped
onward. and humanity moves to 4 higher
level and u brighter day.
The men who are living to-day and who
were young IN iSd9 viii never forget the
glory ard glamour that filed the earth
and the sky when the long twilight OF doubt
and uncertainty was ending and tine time
Of action had come. Patriotism. which had
been a rhe uorical expression. became 4 NJ
sionate emotion, in which instinct. logic
and feeling were fused. The country was
worth saving; IL 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.
Mckinley nv n Soldier.
AT II years OF age William MCKINLEY
heard this summons OF his country He
was the sort OF youth to whom a military
LIE In ordinary times would possess no at
fractions HIS nature was far diffsrent
from that OF the ordinary soldier He had
other dreams of lie. irs prizes and pleas
ures. than that OF marches and battles
But to his mind there was no choice or
question
He enlisted as 4 private; he learned to
obey. His serious. sensible ways his
prompt alert efficiency soon attracted tna
attention OF his supcrfors. H was 50
faithful In little things they gave him more
and more to do He was urtiring in Camp
and on the march. swift cool and fearless
In light. He left the army with field rank
when the war ended. hrevetted by Presi-
dent Lincoln for galiantry IN battle.
Speaking OF the close Of the war Mr. Hay
said. 4 conclusion had been reached
ana IL IS 70 the everlasting honor Of both
sides thar they each knew when the war
was over. and the hour OF a lasting peace
had struck. We may admire the desperate
daring OF others who prefer annihilatior TO
compromise. but the palm OF common
sense. and. I will say. OF enlightened pa
tri0tisn. belongs to the men like Grant and
Lee. who knew when they had fought
enough. for honor ard for country.
Turns to Civil life.
Willinsn Mckinney ann of that sensible
mA4sgR " meni gladly aid down his sword