The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1903-01-29
TRIBUTE ETOM'KlNLE
President Roosevelt's Elo-
quent Eulogy at Canton.
LARGE AyDDlSTINCUlSHEDC GATHERING
Banquet Given by the Republican
League In Commcmoration of
Famous Ohionn's Birthdny.
judge Dny Presides.

Famous Ohionn's birthday.
judge Dny Prcsides.
CANTON, o., Jan. 2S.-Presdent
Roosevelt last night participated in
notable tribute to the memory of the
late President Mckinley. He was the
principal orator ut n banquet given
under the auspices of the Canton Re
publican league in commemoration of
the birthday of Mckinley. Surround
ed by friends, neighbors and business
and political associates of the dead
president, he pronounced n brilliant
and eloquent eulogy upon the life and
works of Mckinley, a eulogy by many
regarded as the most beautiful and
heartfelt tribute ever paid to the MEM
ory of the distinguished dead.
Among the 457 guests assembled
about the boards were some of the
most distinguished men in the civil,
public and political life of the country.
Among those seated at the speakers
table besides President Roosevelt were
Judge William Il. Day, who acted as
toastmaster: Secretary Root, Secretary
Cortelyou, General S. Il. NJ. Young,
General Leonard Wood, General Luke
r.. Wright, vice governor of the Phil
ippines, and Surgeon General RiXey.
President Roosevelt said in part:
Mr.. Toastmaster and Gentlemen
Throughout our history, and indeed
throughout history generally, it has been
given to only very few thrice favored
men to take so marked lead in the
crises faced by their several generations
that thereafter each stands as the embod-
ment of the triumphant effort of his gem
~ation. President Mckinley was one of
these men.
If during the lifetime of a generation no
crisis occurs sufficient to call out in
marked manner the energies ~ the stron-
gest 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.
1t was given to President Mckinley to
life at time when our country was
brought face to face with problems more
rhomentous than any whose solution we
Revolution and in the civil war, and IL
was under his leadership that the nation
solved these mighty problems Alright:
history not merely as the first man of his
generation, but as among the greatest fig
ures in our national life, coming second
only to the men of the two great crises in
which the Union was founded and pre-
served
President McKinleys rise to greatness
had in 1t nothing of the sudden nothing
of the unexpected or seemingly accidental.
Throughout his long term of service in
alike in his power of leadership and in
the recognition of that power both by his
associates in public life and by the pub
lie itself Session after session his infu-
ence in the house grew greater; his party
antagonists grew to look upon him with
constantly increasing respect, his party
-. a. rf iAnr irNer fn
and admiration. Eight years before he
was nominated for president he was al
ready considered a presidential possibili-
ty. Four years before he was nominated
only his own high sense of honor prevent
ed his being made formidable competitor
of the chief upon whom the choice OF, OF the
was chosen because the great mass of his
party knew him and believed in him and
regarded him Symbolizing their ideals,
as representing their aspirations.
But even as a candidate President Nc
Kinley was far more than the candidate
of party, and as president he was in the
broadest and fullest sense the president
of all the people Of all sections of the
country
His first nomination came to him be-
cause of the qualities he had shown in
healthy and open political leadership, the
leadership which by word and deed i'm,
upon the people at large and which has
nothing, in common with mere intrigue or
which party question was entirely
new, so that the old lines of political
All other issues sank In Importance when
compared with the vital need of keeping
our financial system on the high and
honorable plane imperatively demanded
by our position as great civilized power.
As the champion of such a principle
President Mckinley received the support
not only of his own party but of hum
dreds of thousands of those to whom he
mad been politically opposed, He tri-
umphed, and he made good with scrupu-
campaign was won.
The president then spoke of the un
foreseen problems which President Nc
Kinley had to face brought about by
the Spanish-American war and the con
iequent acquisition of Porto Rico and
the Philippines and said:
A weaker and less farsighted man than
President Mckinley would have shrunk
from task very diffcult in itself and
misrepresentation no less than for hon.
est misunderstanding but President Nc.
hinley never hinched. He refused tc
duty in our new possessions, Again his
policy was amply Vndicated. Peace has
come to the Islands, together with q
self government than they have ever be-
.ore known. All the tasks set us as re-
been well and honorably accomplished
md as a result this nation stands higher
han ever before among the nations o.
mankind.
President McKinleys second campaign
was fought mainly on the issue of ap
proving what he had done in his first ad
ninistration and specifically what he haC
done as regards these problems springinl
out of the war with Spain. The resui
was that the popular verdict in his favo
vas more overwhelming than it had beeI
before.
No other president in our history ha
seen high and honorable effort crowned
with more conspicuous personal success
No other president entered upon his sec
ond term feeling such right to a profount
and peaceful satisfaction. Then by
stroke of horror, so strange in its fantas
.lc iniquity as to stand unique in tn
black annals of crime, he was strucl
lown. The brave, strong, gentle hear
vas stilled forever, and word was brough
10 the woman who wept that she was I
walk thenceforth alone in the shadow
The hideous infamy of the deed shocke
he nation to its depths for the man thu
struck at was in peculiar sense tn
champion of the plain people, in a pc
culiar sense the representative and tn
exponent of those ideals which, If w
i've up TO them will make, as they hav
largely made, our country blessed refug
for all who strive to do right and to liv
their lives simply and well as light
flasV.. IT,.