Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1903-01-28
EUL0GY ON MCKINLEY
Delivered by President
at Canton.
ORATOR AT BANQUET
A NOTABLE GATHERING OF
FRIENDS OF LATE PRESIDENT.
Distinguished Men Bear Tribute to His
Greatness-Equal to Every
Emergency.

tribute ever paid to the memory Of the dis
tnguished dead.
President Roosevelt and his party arrived
at Canton at 2 o'clock. He was driven d.
recuy to the residence of Mrs. Mckinley,
Mr.. Roosevelt desiring first to pay his re-
spects to her.
The party then was driven to the West
lawn cemetery to visit the tomb of the late
President Mckinley. There the President
and the entire party paid a silent tribute of
respect to the memory Of the distinguished
dead.
After viewing the site selected for the
magnificent monument to be erected In
memory of Mckinley the visitors returned
to the city. They were driven directly to
the residence of Judge Day, where they
were entertained at luncheon, with several
distinguished persons who were here to at
tend the banquet.
Reception at Hotel Mckinley.
At 6:45 o'clock in the evening the Presi-
dent held reception at the Hotel McKn-
ley for those in attendance upon the ban
quet and for the citizens of Canton. Dur
Ing the three-quarters of an hour the recep-
ton lasted hundreds of people embraced
the opportunity personally to greet the
President. Soon after the close Of the re-
ception at the Hotel Mckinley President
Roosevelt and party walked in a driving
rain from the hotel to the banquet hall,
Ao1A a Squdic uiSldul. Despite the lnClem-
ency of the weather the streets were
thronged with people Special precautions
were taken to insure the safety of the
PRESIDENT, and his pathway to the opera
policemen and soldiers
AS the President rose to speak the au-
dlence rose and cheered him enthusiasticaI-
~! .!,, when ne addressed the POSTMASTER as
Mr.. Justice Day." a designation applied
only to justices of the United States Su-
preme Court, his auditors shook the build
ing with applause. President Roosevelt
spoke as follows:
Text of the Presidents Speech.
Mr.. Toastmaster and Gentlemen: Through
out 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 embodiment of the trium-
plant effort Of his generation President
Mckinley was one of these men.
If during the lifetime of generation no
crisis occurs sufficient to call out in marked
manner the energies of the strongest leader,
then, or course, the world does not and can
not 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 fndelible
mark in history. IT, on the other hand
the crisis Is one SO manysided as to call
for the development and exercise of MANY
distinct attributes. 1t may be that more than
one man will appear in order that the re-
quirements shall be fully met. In the rev.
olution and In the period of constructive
craftsmanship Immediately following it, for
our good fortune 1t befell us that the high
est military and the highest civic attributes
were embodied. in Washington, and SO in
MIN we have one Of the undying men of
history-a great soldier, If possible an even
servant whose lofty and disinterested pa
triotiSm rendered his power and ability
alike on fought fields and in council cham
bers-of the most far-reaching service to
the republic.
Civil War Offered Opportunities.
In the civil war the two functions were
divided, and Lincoln and Grant will stand
forevermore with their names inscribed on
the honor roll Of those who deserved we'll
of mankind by saving to humanity pre-
cious heritage. In similar fashion Thomas
Jefferson and Andrew Jackson each stands
as the foremost representative of the great
movement of his generation and their
names symbolic to us their times and the
hopes and aspirations of their times.
1t was given to President Mckinley to
take the foremost place in our political life
at time when our country was brought
face to face with problems more momentous
than any whose solution We have ever at
tempted, save only in the revolution and in
the civil war, and 1t was under his leader
ship that the nation solved these mighty
problems Alright. Therefore he shall stand
in the eyes of history not merely as the first
man of his generation, but among the
greatest figures In our national life, coming
second only to the men Of the two great
crises in which the Union was founded and
preserved
No man could carry through successfully
such a task as President Mckinley under
took. unless trained by long years Of effort
for its performance. knowledge of his fell
low citizens ability to understand them
keen sympathy with even their innermost
feelings, and yet power to lead them, to-
gether with far-sighted sagacity and reso-
lutte belief both in the people and in their
future-all these were needed in the man
who headed the march of our people during
the eventful years from 1896 to 1901.
These were the qualities possessed by Nc
Kinley. and developed by him throughout
his whole history previous to assuming the
presidency. AS a lad he had the inestmable
privilege Of serving, first in the ranks and
then a commissioned officer in the great
war for national union, righteousness and
grandeur; he was one of those whom a
kindly Providence permitted to take part
in struggle which ennobled every man
who fought therein. He who when little
more than boy had seen the grim stead
fastness which, after four years of giant
struggle, restored the Union and freed the
slave was not thereafter to be daunted by
danger or frightened out of his belief in the
great destiny Of our people.
His Career in Congress.
Some years after the war closed McKin-
ley came to Congress- and rose, during a
succession Of terms, to leadership in his
party in the lower House. He also became
governor Of his native state, Ohio. During
this varied service he received practical
training of the kind most valuable to him
when he became chief executive of the ma
ton To the high faith Of his early years
was added the capacity to realize his ideals
WITTY his fe1lOW of tba