The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1903-01-30

Judge Day last evening President
Roosevelt in response to the toast
William Mckinley" said:
"Mr. Toastmaster, Mr.. Justice Day
and gentlemen: Throughout our his.
tory, and, indeed, throughout history
generally, it has been given to only a
very few thrice-favored men to take
so marked a lead in the crises faced
by their several generations that
thereafter each stands as the embodi.
ment of the triumphant effort of his
generation. President Mckinley was
one OF these men.
IF during the lifetime OF a genera
ton no crisis occurs sufficient to call
out in marked manner the energies of
tie strongest leader, then, of course,
the world does not and cannot know
of the existence of such a leader; and
in consequence there are long periods
In the history Of every nation during
which no man appears who leaves an
indelible mark in history. II on the
other hand, the crisis Is one so many
sided as to call for the development
and exercise of many distinct attri-
butes, it may be that more than one
man will appear in order that the re-
quirements shall be fully met .
I'm the revolution and In the period
OF constructive craftsmanship imme-
diately following 1t, for our good for
tune it befell us that the highest mil
itary and the highest civic attributes
were embodied in Washington, and
SO in him we have one OF the undying
men of history-a great soldier, IL pos
sible an even greater statesman, and
above all a public servant whose lofty
and disinterested patriotism rendered
his power and ability-alike on fought
fields and in council chambers-of the
most far-reaching service in the re-
public.
'ln the civil war the two functions
were divided, and Lincoln and Grant
will stand forevermore with their
names inscribed on the hopor roll OF
those who have deserved well of man
kind by saying to humanity a precious
heritage. In similar fashion Thomas
Jefferson and Andrew Jackson each
stands as the foremost representative
of the great movement of his genera
ton. and their names symbolic to us
their times and the hopes and aspira-
tons of their times.
1T was given to President McKin-
ley to take the foremost place in our
political life at a time when our
country was brought face to face with
problems more momentous than any
whose solution we have ever attempt
ed, save only in the revolution and in
the civil war; and it was under his
leadership that the nation solved
these mighty problems Alright. There
fore, he shall stand in the eyes Of his
tory, not merely as the first man of
his generation, but as among the
greatest figures in our national life.
coming second only to the men of the
two great crisises in which the union
was founded and preserved.
mo man could carry through sue
cessfully such a task as President
Mckinley undertook. unless trained by
long years of effort for its perform.
ance. knowledge of his fellow citi-
zens, ability to understand them, keen
sympathy with even their innermost
feelings, and yet power to lead them
together with far-sighted sagacity and
resolute belief both in the people ana
in their future-all these were needed
In the man who headed the march of
cur people during the eventful years
from 1896 to 1901. These were the
Qualities possessed by Mckinley, and
developed by him throughout his
whole history previous to assuming
the presidency. AS lad he had ths
inestimable privilege of serving first
In the ranks, and then as commits
stoned officer, in the great war for ma
tlonal union, righteousness, and
grandeur; he was one of those whom
kindly Providence permitted to take
part in struggled which ennobled
every man who fought therein. He
who, when little more than a boy, had
seen the grim steadfastness which, af-
ter four years of giant struggle,-re-
stored the union and freed the slave.
was not thereafter to be daupted by
danger or frighten out of his belief in
the great destiny Of our people.
Some years after the war closed
Mckinley came to congress, and rose
during a succession OF terms, to lead
ership in his party In the lower house.
He also became governor OF his native
state, Ohio. During this varied SER
vice he received practical training of
the KIND most valuable to him when
he became chief executive Of the ma
tion. To the high faith Of his early
years was added the capacity to real
lac his ideas. to work with his fellow
men at the same time that he led
them.
president McKinley's rise to great
ness and In 1t nothing Of the sudden,
nothing of the unexpected or seeming
" accidental. Throughout his long
term of service In congress there was
. steady increase alike In his power
Of leadership and In the recognition
g that power both by his associates
n pubic life and by the public itself,
o1Dion e1tey sesa'>sn biz influence in
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