Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1903-02-03
HONOR HIS MEMORY
q. A. R. and w. R. G. Hold Nc
Kinley Memorial Services.
GULOGISTIC ADDRESS HEAR D
Excellent Program Commemorative of
the Deeds of the Martyred President
Given Last Evenine-Dr. A. <. Craig
and Major A. Fl. Hamilton Talk.

| y
! From FRIDAYS Dallyl
To do honor to the memory of the
| martyred president, VIM. Mckinley,
| the members of Cloutman post, G. A.
X, and the Cloutman Post Relief
Corps held services last evening at
the G. A. r. room in the court house.
| The attendance was not as large as
| u should have been, nevertheless
mere was an attentive audience pres.
| ent. Yesterday was the birthday an
| ulversary OF the late VIM Mckinley
| ana hitting services Were held in com,
| nlemorat1on of the deeds of that great
| man whose tragic death plunged the
| entire country into the deepest grief.
Fitting Program Rendered.
| Mrs Adeline Stewart, president OF
| the Cloutman post Relief corps. was
| the chairman of the meeting. The
principal events of the program were
the addresses by Dr. A. e. Craig and
| Major A. II. Hamilton, eulogistic OF
VIM. Mckinley. The addresses were
| lntently received by the audience, as
were the recitations "Grandmother's
Spinning Wheel by Miss Ceora Ian.
| ham, and THY VIII Be Done" by
Miss Bertha McCue Music by the
Favorite Mandolin orchestra and a
vocal solo by Miss Lillian Sutton were
also greatly appreciated One of the
| pleasing features was the solo, Beau.
tllhl Isle of Somewhere sung by
Mrs. Adeline Stewart.
ReV. a. e. Craig was the principal
speaker OF the evening and he spoke
in part as follows
AS citizens we are under great oh.
legations to these organizations which
nave arranged this service this even.
ing as being the most active organi.
cations in our midst in keeping green
the memory of our departed heroes
Upon their request will speak a few
words.
TO my mind we are standing so
near to that great figure that has SC
recently fallen that we have not had
time to form a just conception Of the
elements in the character of the mar.
tyred president VIM. Mckinley. To
my mind he stood as a representa-.
tive Of the best type of American citi.
zensh1p. He was a man of the peo-
pie IN the best sense. He rose from
that sturdy middle class life which
forms the bone and sinew of Ameri-
can life. That he was a man of the
people was seen in his instructive de-
sire TO ascertain the public mind on
all great subjects. He was not a
weather vane, not mere echo. not a
fawning sycophant at the feet of the
masses. But he never forgot that he
| w
ne had faith in the old adage that the
voice OF the people was the voice of
God. He felt sure that the great pulse
beat of American life was true.
The Voice of the People.
and while disposed to hear and
heed the voice of the people he was
able to be independent This was
seen at the time that wave of re.
version swept over the country after
the passage of what was known as
the Mckinley bill. 1t might have
swept less firm men off their feet. He
felt that he was in the right and he
was willing to abide by what he had
done and wait for the people to come
around to his way of thinking.
AS Statesman.
"As statesman he was character
lied for his breadth, sanity and wis.
dom, rather than for his brilliancy
He had not the oratorical gift of Web
ster, the rare penetration of Lincoln,
nor the magnetism of Blaine, but he
had the faculty of briuring men to
his way Of thinking. He had what
almost amounted to genius in his
ability to handle men, to placate their
feelings, to harmonize their differ
ences, to gain their confidence and
command concessions for the sake OF
harmonious action
His Personal Qualities.
"He manifested certain personal
qualities in very marked degree:
such for instance was his patience as
seen when every voice was bowling
to let slip the dogs of war He with.
stood the senseless clamor till every
resource of diplomacy had been ex,
hausted, and the country was in a
measure prepared for the very serious
business of war. When once a course
was entered upon no one had any reas.
on TO charge him with lack OF spirit
with vaccilation or with lack of policy
He saw clearly, acted vigorously and
adhered to his purpose tenaciously.
| His Faithful Devotion.
His personal life was not only above
reproach but was in many respects
worthy of the highest commentator
1 His life was clean. He was not at any
time addicted to even those smaller
\ vices that mar the private life of only
too many men. His domestic relation
was not only beyond criticism but was
beautiful. Such faithful devotion as
he displayed to his invalid wife has
rarely been seen. and has done more
to endear him to the great heart of
this nation than any other aspect OF
his career.
Mckinley's Christian Character.
1T will not be out OF place to re
| fer to his Christian character, for we
believe that he was an unassuming
conscientious, devoted son of the
church, who loved its services, believed
| it's doctrines, conformed to it's discip