The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1903-01-28
EULOCY OF
M'KlNLEY
President Roosevelt Delivers
Eloquent Speech.
DISTINGUISHED GUESTS
In Beautiful Language Living President
Paid Tribute to Dead One at Ban
quet Given in Latter's Honor
in HIS Former Home.
(By Associated press. !


able tribute to tho memory OF the late
President Mckinley. He was the prin-
cipal orator ut n banquet given under
the auspices of the Canton Republican
League. In commcmoration Of tho birth
day OF Mckinley. Surrounded by friends,
neighbors and business and political as
sociates Of the dead President ho pro-
nounced n brilliant and eloquent eulogy
upon tho life and works OF Mckinley--a
eulogy by many regarded rs the most
beautiful and heartfelt tribute ever paid
to the memory Of the distinguished dead
The banquet was held in the Grand
Opera-House. tho seats being removed
from the pit and tho house entirely re-
doorcd for the OCCASION. Tile interior
of the building was beautiful with flags
and flowers, tho floral decorations being
particularly elaborate.
DISTINGUISHED GUESTS.
Among tho AT guests assembled, about
the boards were some OF the most dis
tlngushcd men In the civil. public and
political life OF the country. At the
speakers table. beside President Rooss-
welt. were seated Judge William r. Day,
who acted MS toastnastcr; Secretary
Root, Secretary cortclyou. General S. b.
M Young, General Leonard Wood Cen
eral Luke p. Wright, Vlce-Governor Of
the Philippines; SUPERINTENDENT IlXey
and many others.
Judge Day. as toastmaster, introduced
president Roosevelt In a brief address.
As the President rose to speak the au-
dience rose and oheered him enthusiasts
tically. When he addressed tho toast
master as "AIr. Justice Day his audience
shook tho building With applause.
president Roosevelt spoke az follows:
PRESIDENTS SPEECH.
Mr.. Toastmastcr and Gentlemen:
Throughout our history. and indeed
throughout history generally, It has been
given to only n very few thrice favored
men to take so marked n lead In the
4 crises faced by their several generations
4 that thereafter each stands as the em-
bodiment of the triumphant effort of
his generation. President Mckinley was
one OF these men.
i It was given to President Mckinley to
take the foremost place In our political
life ut time when our country was
brought face to face with problems moro
mo1nentous than any whose solution we
have ever attempted. save only In the
Revolution and In tho Civil War; and
1t was under his leadership that the ma
ton solved these mighty problems Alright.
Therefore, he shall stand in the eyes OF
history not merely as the first man OF
his generation, but as among tho great
est figures In our national life, coming
second only to the men OF tho two great
crises In which the Union was founded
and preserved
presluenr Nchlnley's rise to greatness
had in 1t nothing Of the sadden. nothing
of the unexpected or seemingly accden-
fnl
His first nomination came to him be-
cause of tho qualities no had shown in
healthy and open political leadership.
the leadership which by word and deed
1mpresses itself as a virllc force for good
upon tho people Mt large and which has
nothing In common with mere intrigue or
manipulation.
SOUGHT PEACE.
But as 80 often happens in our history.
The President was forced to face ques-
lions other than those at issue at the
tirne OF his election. Within n year the
situation In, Cuba had become literally
irtolerable. He sought by every honor
ablo means to preserve peace. to avert
I war. Then, when 1t became evident that
these efforts were useless, that peace
could not be honorably entertained, he de-
voted his strength to making the war
as short and decisive as possible. Suf-
fee 1t to say, that rarely indeed in his
tory has n contest SO far-reachlng In the
Importance Of It's outcome been achieved
with such ease There followed q harder
task.
No other President in our history has
seen high and honorable effort crowned
& with more conspicuous personal success.
No other President entered upon his sec
ond term feeling such right to pro-
found and peaceful satisfaction. Then,
by a stroke of horror. so strange in Its
fantastic inl1ulty rs to stand unique In
the black annals of crime, he was struck
down. The brave, strong. gentle heart
was stilled forever, and word was
brought to the woman who wept that sho
was to walk thenceforth alGle In the
shadow.
SPLENDID CAREER.
We are gathered together tonight to
recall his memory. to pay our tribute Of
respect to the great chief and leader who
xel In the harness. who was stricken
down while his eyes were bright with
@3e'tho light that tells of triumph tasted"
We can honor him best oyi 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 lie can, something OF the qualities
which made President Mckinley II leader
sof men, a mighty power for good-his
strength. his courage. his courtesy and
j dignity. his sense OF justice. his ever
4 present kindness and regard for the
rights of others. He Won greatness by
meeting and solving tho issues as they
arose-not by Sinking them-meetinE
them with wisdom. with the exercise of
the most skllful and cautious Judgment,
but with fearless resolution when the
J time Of crisis came. He met each crisis
on It's own merits: he never sought ex-
s cuse for Sinking n task In the fact that
It was different from the one he had
expected to face. The long public career
which opened when. as O. boy, no car
ried musket In the ranks and closed
when, as n man, In tho prime of his In
tellectual strength. he stood among the
worlds chief statesmen. came to what 1t
Z was because,ho treated each triumph as
opening the road to fresh effort, not rs
an excuse for ceaslng from effort He
undertook mighty tasks, Some OF them
he finished completely; others we must
finish; and there remain yet othelta
which he did not have to face. but which
II We arc worthy to be the inheritors
OF his principles, We will In our turn
face with the same resolution. the Same
sanity. the same unfaltering belief In the
greatness OF this country, and unfalterins
championship of the rights of each and
4 all OF our people. which marked HIS high
and splendid career.
In thanking President Roosevelt for his
X 6neech, Judge DAY said that by It IN