The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1902-02-28
N 'K|NLEY,,
THE BELOVED
Secretary Hays EIo-
quent Eulogy Of the
Late President.
TRIBUTE BY
THE CONGRESS
Memorial Service at Noon
Thursday - Scholarly Ad-
dress by the Secretary
Of State.

(News-Democrat Leased Wire Service)
Washington, Feb. 27.-Following is
the full text of Secretary John Hays
eulogy of the late president, before
congress. at the memorial exercises to-
day.
United States are assembled to com
memorate the life and death of a presi-
dent slain by the hand of an assassin.
The attention of the future historian will!
be attracted to the features which reap
pear with startling sameress In all three
of these awfu, crimes: the uselessness,
the utter lack OF consequence of the act;
the obscurty, the insigniflcance of the
criminal; the blaInelessness-of the vic
tim. Not one of our murdered presi-
dents had an enemy In the world; they
were ali of such preeminent purit, of life
that no preteAt could be given for the
attack of passional crime; they were
all men of democratic instincts who
could never have offended the most jeal
Gus advocates of equality: they were of
kindly and generous nature, to whom
wrong or Injustice Vas Impossible: OF
nobody could envy. They were men of
,austere virtue, of tender heart, of emil
nent abilities, which they had devoted
with single minds to good of the republic.
II ever men walked before God and man
without blame, 1t was these three rulers
of our people. The only temptation TO at
radiance-to eyes hating the light that
was offense enough.
The stupid usecssness of such an in
fanny affronts the common sense of the
world. One can conceive how the death
of a dictator may change the political
conditions of an empire; how the extinc-
tion of n narrowing line of kings may
bring in an alien dynasty. But In a we'll
ordered republic like ours the ruler may
fall. but the state feels no tremor. Our
beloved and reyered leader Is gone-but
ha n our
us successor identical in purpose and
ideals, nourished by the same teachings
inspired by the same principles, pledged
By tender affection as well as by high
loyalty to carry to completion the i'm
mense task committed to his hands. to
smite with iron severity every mani
festation of that hideous crime which his
mild predecessor, with his dying breath,
forgave. The sayings of celestial wisdom
have no date: the words that reach us
over two thousand years. are true to the
life today: '"rhey know not what they
do" The blow struck at our dear friend
and ruler. was as deadly as blind hate
could make 1t; but the blow strtck at
anarchy was deadlier still
What n world of insoluble problems
such an event excites in the mind! Not
merely in its personal, but in its public
aspects, 1t presents a paradox not to be
comprehended. Under a system of gov
ernmcnt so free and so impartial that
we recognize its existence only by it's
benefactions; under a social order 50
purely democratic that classes cannot
exist in it, affcrding opportunities so uni
versal that even conditions are as chang
ing as the winds. where the laborer of
today is the capitalist OF tomorrow: un-
der laws which are the result of ages
cent that the president has just the
same rights and privileges as the
artisan; we see the same hcllish
growth of hatred and murder
benevolent monarchs and blOod-stained
despots How may countries can join
with us in the community of kindred
sorrow! I will not speak of those dis
tant regions where assassination enters
into the daily life OF government But
among the nations bound to us by the
ties of familiar intercoursS-whoc can for
get that wise and mild autocrat who had
earned the proud title Of the liberator?
that enlightened and magnanimous citi-
zen whom France still mourns? that
brave and chiyalrous king Of Italy who
only lived for his people? and, saddest
of all, that lovely and sorrowing en-
press whose harmless life could hardly
have excited the animosity of demon.
Against that devilish spirit nothing
avails-neither virtue nor conscience nor
pity. We cannot even say that education
baleful evl--for most of the wretches
whose crimes have so shocked humanity
in recent years are men not unlettered
who have gone from the common schools,
through murder, to the scaffo,d.
DARK PROBLEM OF ANARCHY.
Our minds cannot discern the origin,
nor conceive the extent OF wickedness
80 preverse and so cruel: but this does
not exempt us from the dnty of trying
to control and counteract 1t. We do not
understand what electricity Is: whence 1t
comes or what Its hidden properties may
FOR good or eviiWand sc so y with @ the pain pain
full toll OF years, men of learning and
skill have labored TO store and to SUBJ
1ugate 1t, to neutralize and even to en-
ploy its destructive energies. This prob
lem of anarchy is dark and intricate.
but 1t ought TO be within the compass
OF democratic government-although no
sane mind can fathom the mysteries of
those untracked and orbitless natures
TO guard against their berrations, to take
away from them the hope of escape,
the long luxury of scandalous days In
court, the unwholesome sympathy of
hysterical degenerates. and so by degrees
10 make the crime not worth commit
ting, even to these abnormal and distorted
souls.
II would be presumptuous for me in
this presence to suggest the details of
remedial legislation for a malady so
malignant That task may safely be left
to the skill and patience OF the national
congress, which has never been found
UNEQUAL unequal to s,,a any such ,Sa, ,s emergency. The
three murdered comrades of yours-all of
whose voices still haunt these walls
will be sufficient inspiration to enable
you to solve even this abstruse and pain
ful problem. which has dimmed so many
pages OF history with blood and with
tears.
Before an audience less sympathetic
than this, / should not dare to speak of
that great career which we have met
to commemorate. But We are all his
friends, and friends do not criticise each
others words about an open grave. /
thank you for the honor you have done
me In inviting me here;- and not less
for the kind forbearance / know / shall
have from yod In my most inadequate
efforts to speak Of him worthiIy.
The life Of William Mckinley was.
Xn11ficap. There is no environment. I
GholQ say, anywhere else In the world
which could produce Just such n charac-
~. kzQ yes born into that way q life