The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1902-09-14
WILLIAM M'KINLEY.

WILLIAM MhINLE1.
One year ago to-day, after more than
week of anxiety, the life of President Will
liam Mckinley came to an end. The week
before his death will be remembered as the
When the President fell at the hands Of
an assassin the country was plunged into
deepest sorrow. Then came the reports
that the President would recover, and the
country, in its great joy, so forgot the
danger which surrounded him that the peo-
the deepest sorrow when the intelligence
came which convinced all that the beloved
chief magistrate could not survive the in
jury he had received. The American
people never went through such an ex-
perience. 1t is safe to say that never were
exaltation as that which swept over the
country when it was announced that Will
liam Mckinley was no more. The last
words of the dying President, so full Of
courage and Christian resignation,
touched the heart of the people as no ore
which the President so heroically died his
spirit seemed to go forth to kindle a kim
dred sentiment in the hearts of the Amer
lean people. For a few days the death
of the President was the absorbing topic;
the gains of trade were forgotten; the
value of wealth was lost sight of in the
thought of the lofty courage and Christian
resignation displayed by a dying man;
partisanship was stilled, and the masses
responded in a strange religious fervor,
thousands being lifted to the spiritual level
of the dead statesman by reading his in
spired words and by singing the hymns
which, during his life, had filled his soul
with ecstasy. and which came into his
mind when he so calmly and resolutely
faced death.
1t is more than well that to-day we
should recall William Mckinley, not be-
cause he had been President. but because
he was the ideal citizen and the Christian
gentleman. His whole life is worth re-
calling to-day, not because he was great
statesman, but because he was in all his
relations to life a good and true man.
He began life by taking a serious view of
it. With few advantages he made the
most of those which he could grasp. He
was dutiful son, he was helpful asso-
ciate, he allied himself with the best in
fuences in the community. He entered
the Union army as a private, and so well
did he do his duty that, mere boy, he
rose step by step. The war over he went
home, completed his education and set
about his lifes work. While building up
a law practice he studied the science of
law. Instead of joining the giddy set of
young men in his town he became a mem
Der Of the Methodist Church. He was
elected to office because ne was capable
and trustworthy. He resorted to no petty
tricks. In no sense was William McKin-
| ley a merely smart" young man. He
had brains. but. what was more, he had
character and conscience. He always ran
ahead of his ticket because the people
| he was an upright man who could be
trusted. He was ambitious, but to ambi-
/ ton he did not sacrifice his personal in
tegrity and honor. He became the foremost
man Of his time because he was student
and thinker, and not one who idled. His
was grand moral character because, with
out ostentation, he was a devout Chris
tan man. He walked with God and kept
His commandments.
| Tens of thousands of people all over this
land will recall William Mckinley to-day,
| not so much because he was President
when he died. and had been great states
man and party leader, but because he
was the true man in every relation in
life. He is William Mckinley, the man
| who most appeals to the better side of
our natures-William Mckinley, who lived
so much in the inspiration of Gods truth
that he died so grandly that his dying
touched the civilized worlds heart. Such
men never die. The name of William Nc
Kinley. in the years to come, will be an in
centive to all who seek the best in life
Fortunate Is the nation that possesses the
precious memory of Lincoln and a Nc
| Kinley