The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1903-09-15

we attained the highest measure of pros
perity. great tariff law was. enacted;
Hawaii was annexed to the United States,
and war in the name of humanity was
successfully waged: Cuban independence
was secured; Porto Rico and the Philippines
were added to our domain, and they were
permitted to enjoy the blessings of republi-
can institutions. The gold standard was
made secure; the public debt was refunded
at a reduced rate of interest: the way was
prepared for an isthmian canal; the ma
tional prestige was increased throughout
the world by carrying into the conduct of
foreign affairs "A firm and just policy of
dealing with other powers. He was no less
insistent upon commanding respect for our
rights than he faithful in observing
the rights of other nations.
He possessed an optimistic philosophy.
He believed in his country with all his
heart, and he had an abiding faith in its
destiny. He never distrusted the honor
or patriotism of his countrymen. He was
sensitive of the good name of the Republic.
and he stood ilfexibly for its preservation.
He was statesman i'm the highest and
best sense He studied and mastered meas
ureS and he knew men by intuition. He
was total stranger to intrigue. He strove
to bring men into good relationship, and
to promote policies making for the public
veal. He sought the confidence of men.
not for personal ACKNOWLEDGEMENT but that
in the advancement of the common good.
He was modest and tactful, calm and reso-
lutte; with purposes as pure as his name
was spotess. He differed with men, but
he cherished no malice. His very person
atty increased our faith i'm republican in
situations
He was masterfu political leader. one
of the greatest the country has produced.
He led. not by artifice, but by force of the
principles he espoused and by his own in
herent virtue. He successfully led because
people had faith in the integrity and wis
dom of the man, and believed in the sound
ness of his policies
Twice he turned aside the highest honor
his party could bestow, because in his
opinion acceptance would involve broken
| faith. He knew that honor did not abide
| in place, but that 1t rested alone in the
| confidence and hearts of his countrymen.
| In good time the occasion arrived when
| he could accept with honor and his party
| could bestow the highest mark of its con-
| fidence and esteem.
MADE FRIENDS WITH THE SOUTH.
'He did all that lay within his power
| to wipe away the last trace of bitterness
between the North and the South. 1t was
his ambition to establish a unity of senti-
ment between those two great sections of
| the country where division had so long un-
| happily existed. He frequently said that
if he could succeed in bringing the people
north and south of Mason and Dixon'S line
into complete and enduring fellowship, he
would regard it as the most signal achieve
| ment of his administration.
| He lived to receive the homage of all
| sections, and when he died all were equally
| touched by the great sorrow. 1t has fallen
| TO the lot of few men to possess so largely
| as he did the respect and confidence of all
| mankind His own countrymen had the
utmost faith in his integrity. of purpose.
| and the people of other lands recognized
| his exalted craftsmanship.
/ HE had but fairly entered upon his sec
| ond term when suggestion was made that
| he should be a candidate for third term.
1t was born of an anxiety to make secure
a continuance of the gratifying conditions
developed by his administration. To this
he entered prompt and emphatic dissent.
My only ambition; sal. said he; is to serve
! of my countrymen, whose generous conf
dence so deeply appreciate and then. with
| them TO dc my duty in the ranks of private
| citizenship.
HE was the wise and trusted friend of
| labor and capital. He believed in them,
| and they believed in him. Neither doubted
| him. He advocated those measures which
| he felt would best promote their mutual
| interests. The greatest improvement in the
| condition of the workingmen of the country
| he regarded as essential to the highest So
| cial and national advancement, and the
| security of capital he held necessary to en-
during progress.
| HE was an orator of persuasive power.
| He spoke from his convictions and ad-
| dressed himself to the consciences of men.
| His manner was dignified, natural and
| graceful, his language sober and chaste,
and his voice melodious and far-reaching.
! He did not assume an air of superiority,
nor did he speak for the purpose of self
| exploitation but because he had a message
| to convey to his countrymen.
"He was a firm believer in the home and
in all the inspiring Influences that center
| there. The American people will remember
| his services in the field. in the Congress
and in high executive offices; and they will
| equally remember his devotion to his home
! His greatness and his gentleness, his purity
and his sweetness of character, found their
| truest expression in the sacred relations of
the family, which, in the final analysis. is
| the unit and strength of the Republic.
SINCERELY RELIGIOUS.
Of cir
ious convictions, and derived consolation
and strength in divine worship. He united
with the Methodist Episcopal Church in his
boyhood, and continued a devout member
to the end. In the last serious hour, after
all that human love and skill could do had
failed. with sweet resignation he fell to
sleep with the hymn, Nearer, my God, to
Thee. upon his lips Although a sectarian,
| he was free from bigotry and had gener-
GUS sympathy for all churches engaged in
| the extension of the kingdom of the Master
THE place of William Mckinley in history
! Is secure. We are not too near the events
Of which he was part. correctly to meas
| ure his proportions. nor do we look with
| too partial eyes upon what he did. We
know the great share he bore in the sig
nifcant events through which he passed.
and We have faith to believe that the judg
ment of his contemporaries will be con-
firmed by history when with impartial
hand she shall record the deeds of men.
You honor yourselves by honoring him.
You make the future your debtor by erect
ing this statue in commemoration of his
life and services, for like his immortal
| prototype, Abraham Lincoln, he belongs
to the ages Hither the lovers of Amer
| lean institutions will come in the unnum-
| bered years before and derive new hope
and new inspiration. Similar monuments
will rise in other lands to which peoples
not of our race will pay their homage.
The people of Cuba, whose liberty was Sc
cured through his genius and statesman
ship, Will erect monuments in his honor.
So also the people of Porto Rico and the
far-off Philippines, will raise enduring
memorials to perpetuate to the furthest
ages the memory of the President who car
ried TO them the blessings of republican
government.
1T seems but yesterday that William Nc
Kinley stood among us at the very zenith
of his power. He possessed in full degree
the affection and confidence of his country
men, and his name was a benefcent in
fiuence throughout the world Without
warning the cruel bolt fell We stood
speeches. in the midst of uncommon sor-
row. Our great and beloved leader by
some mysterious Providence, fell in the
plenitude of his strength. Upon the day of
his sepulture rulers and people in many for
eign lands united in impressive memorial
services. and the flags of all nations were
in mourning. Throughout the great Repub-
lie busy trade stood still; the telegraph was
silent and as by some common impulse,
steamships and railroad trains stopped, and
the people uncovered in the streets or knelt