The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1903-02-11
PAYS TRIBUTE TO M'MNLEY
The Presidents Eulogy at a Banquet
in Canton, Ohio.
VISITS WIDOW AND THE TpsfB

Roosevelt Says That His Predecessor VIII
Stand ~ Among the Greatest Figures
In the Country's History-we Must
Finish HIS Tasks-Ths Birthday of h
Arsrtyred President Commemorated.
Canton. Ohio. Witt President RoOse-
Welt as the guest Of honor. and with
other noted men present. the Canton
Republican League celebrated the six
tieth anniversary of william Mckin-
ley's birth ut the Grand Opera House.
There were 400 plates spread. and
besides the people at the tables $50
others Witnessed the ceremonies and
heard the speeches. occupying seats In
the balcony and gallery.
The decorations were made up OF ex-
cellent portraits Of the mGrtyrcd Presi.
dent and President Roosevelt. numer-
GUS flags. much bunting and many cut
flowers. There was q p~r0fuSiOn OF car
nations.
|. After the arrival Of the, President and
party ut . o'clock p. m. the President
was driven to the Mrs. Mckinley home.
where he paid his respects. Imme-
diateiy thereafter the President and
partv visited the Mckinley vault. and
In silence bowed beside the casket OF
his predecessor. He was then driven
to the site of the Mckinley monument.
and expressed great satisfaction over
the selection. 4 ten was given at the
home Of Judge and Mrs. Day to the
President and other guests Mt 4.3O.
From 6.45 to Z o'clock the President re-
ceived banquet guests ut Hotel Mckin-
ley.
The banquet began at 7.3o. At 0
o'clock the speaking commenced, with
Judge Day rs toastmaster. The Presi-
tent responded to william Mckinley"
He said in part:
throughout our history. and indeed
through history generally. 1t has been
given to only q very few thrice-favored
men to take so marked q lead In the
crises faced by their several genera.
lions that thereafter each stands as
the embodiment Of the triumphant ef.
fort of his generation. President Nc
Kinley was one Of these men.
1T was given to President Mckinley
to take the foremost place In our polit-
zeal life at q time when our country
was brought face to face with prob
lens more mcmentous than any whose
solution We have ever attempted. save
only In the Revolution and in the Civil
War, and 1t was under his leadership
that the nation solved these mighty
problems Alright. Therefore he shall
stand In the eyes Of history not merely
rs the first man of his generation. but
rs 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.
mo man could carry through sue.
.cessfully such q task as President Nc
Kinley undertook unless trained by long
years Of effort for Its performance.
knowledge Of his fellow citizens. abii-
ity 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 and In their future
all these were needed In the man who
headed the march Of U 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.
I'VE are gathered together tonight to
recall his memory. to pay u tribute
of respect to the great chief and leader
who fell in the harness. who was
stricken down while his eyes were
bright with the light that tells Of
triumph tasted We can honor him
best by the way We show In actual
deed that we have taken to heart the
lessons Of his life. We must strive to
achieve, each in the measure that he
car. something Of the qualities which
made President Mckinley n leader OF
men, a mighty power for good-his
strength. his courage. his courtesy and
dignity, his sense or justice. his ever
present kindliness and regard for the
rights Of others. He undertook mighty
tasks. Some Of them he finished com.
pletely; others We must finish. n
there remain yet others which he did
not have to face. but which. II We are
worthy to be the inheritors Of his prin.
cIples, We will In our turn face with
the same resolution. the same sanity.
the same unfaltering belief In the
greatness OF this country. and unfa!.
terlng championship Of the rights OF
each and all Of u people. which
marked his high and splendid career"
The President was followed by Sec
rotary Root. who spoke on The
Army"
A short letter from former Secretary
Long was read by Judge Day. In which
regrets were expressed. General Luke
Wright responded to THE Philip.
pines"
In the absence Of Governor Nash.
who was detained by illness. "OhiO"
was responded to by ]. ]. Grant. OF
Canton.
Charles Emory Smith. responding to
the toast. "Our Country. the P.ilip-
pines" referred to President Mckin-
lev as one OF the few Presidents who
were recognized makers Of chiefs OF
| distinctive or creative epochs.
Mckinley he compared to Washing
ton and Lincoln. and asserted that he
was the highest symbol OF the Ameri.
can purpose in the third era Of Il M
tional progress: as Augustus found
Rome in brick and left 1t In marble. -
! Mckinley found the United States
! within the continental Hires and left its
domain and its power offended beyoEi
the seas.
Election OF Senator Teller Legal.