The Washington times., 1903-01-28
President Roosevelt EuIo-
gizes the Memory of His
Dead Predecessor at Birth
day Banquet
Notable Gathering at Can
tOn-HOnOr to the Widow.
Visit to the Tomb.

CANTON. Ohio. Jan. 2S-PresiIent
Roosevelt was The principal orator at
q banquet given last night under the
auspices of tho Canton Republican
League in commemoratjon OF the birth
day OF McKtnIey- He pronounced a
brilliant and eloquent euIogy-
The banquet was held in The Grand
Opera House. the seats being removed
from the pit and the house entirely re-
hoored for the occasion.
At the speakers table. besides Prcsi-
dent Roosevelt. were seated Judge VIII
liam r Day. who acted as toasmaster.
Secretary Root. Secretary CortalyoU,
Gen. s. B. NJ. Young. Gen. Leonard
Wood. Gen. Luke F Wright Surgeon
General Rixey. Capt ". &. CowIes. Col
Theodore A Bingham. Assistant Seore-
tary Of Agriculture Brigham, Repre-
sentative r ". Taylor. James W
Grant. Col GIyrOn T Herrick. of CIave-
land. J. 6. SchmiGlapD- H H Kohl
saat. OF Chicago Charles Emory Smith,
Judge Harter. Judge Smyser and Alfred
c. Tynon.
The Presidents Address.
Throughout our history. and. indeed.
throughout history generally. it has been
given to only very few thrice-favored
men 10 take so marked a lead in the
crises faced by their several generations
that thereafter each stands as the en-
bodiment of the triumphant effort of his
generation. 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 Of the
strongest leader, then, of course. the
world does not and cannot know of the
existence OF such . leader. and in conse-
QuenCe there are long periods in the his
tory of every nation during which no
man appears who leaves an indeIible
mark in history II, on the other hand
the crisis Is enc so maHy-sided as to
call for the development and exercise Of
many distinct attributes. it may be that
more than one man viii appear in order
that the requirements shall be fully met
IN the Revolution and in the period
OF constructive statesmanshfp immedi-
ately following it, for our good fortune
II Befeu US that the highest military
Snd the highest civic attributes We're
embodied in Washington So in him we
have one OF the undying men of history
a great soldier. If possible an even
greater statesman, and above all a pub
lie servant whose lofty and disinterested
patriotism rendered his power and abiI-
ity-aIiRe on fought fields and in coun-
Gil chambers-of the most far-reachinr
service 10 the Republic In the civil
war the two functions were divided, and
Lincoln and Grant viii stand forever
more with their names inscribed on the
honor roll Of those who have deserved
well OF mankind by saving to humanity
q precious heritage. In similar fashion
Thomas Jefferson and Andrew Jackson
each stands as the foremost representa-
tive Of the great movement Of his gen
Grafton. and their names symbolic 10
US their times and the hopes and aspiTa-
tions Of their times.
Calls Him a Great Figure.
1T was given to President Mckinley
10 take the foremost place in our DOliti-
cal life at time when our country
was brought face 10 face with problems
more momentous than any whose solu-
tion we have ever attempted. save only
IN the Revolution and in the civil war
and it was under his leadership 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 as 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 success
fully such a task as President Mckinley
undertook unless trained by long years
OF effort for its performance. knowledge
OF his fellow citizens, ability 10 under
stand them. keen sympathy with even
their iuneTmost feelings and vet power
10 lead them. together with Far-sighted
sagacity and resolUte belief both in the
people and in their future-aH these
were needed in the man who headed
the march Of our people during tho
eventful years from 1896 to 1901 These
Wers the qualities possessed by McKfn-
ley and developed by him throughout
his whole history previous to ASSUMING
the Presidency.
Back 10 Civil War Again.
''As a lad be had the inestimabIe priv
iiege Of serving. first 81 the ranks and
then as q commissioned Officer. in the
great war for national union. righteous
ness, and graQdeur- he was one OF those
whom a kindly providence permitted to
take part Iu q struggle which ennobIed
every man who fought therein. He who
when little more than a boy had seen the
grim steadfastness, which. after four
years OF giant struggle restored the
Union and freed the slave. was not there
after to be daunted by danger or fright
ened out Of his belief in the great des-
tiny or our people"
President Roosevelt then sketched The
political career or Mr. Mckinley. He
continued.
Even as a candidate President Ne
Kinley was far more than the candidate
Of party, and as President he was in
the hroadest and fullest sense the Pres
ideut OF all the people of all sections of