The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1903-01-29
HONORING MCKINLEY

IL ceptine the vicissitudes OF that time as mat
OF course and coming its experiences into prep
aration for career it has been given to but few men
in our national history to achieve as Mckinley
achieved TO succeed as he succeeded and to pass
into immortality as admired and respected by the
world His life was singularly clean and wholesome,
and searched intimately it fails to exhibit
flaw which may serve as an evil example to another
In his euogy OF the dead President Secretary John
Hay said that he belonged generation, boy and
man, who looked down one, and were not
conscious that any could look down on them This
is an ideal description OF republican OF equality
He who has no sense OF superiority of neriority
in the things OF consequence in the issues oil lie IS
true citizen OF free society The Inscriptions OF
honor 10 such a man. as the model OF what free in
stitutions product and the OF manhood
which IS their highest expression, becomes his
countymen have been general confined to no State.
peculiar to 10 section
Looking abroad we see the impression he made
upon his country and his countrymen projected into
the world and behold the people of all nations iudg-
ing by the production of such the rep
resentative of that character which is the fruit OF
freedom and. OF opportunity. The lesson OF his life
has become lasting admonition to the wllful and
tickle OF the world, light to lead and encourage
those who believe in the moral forces which move the
affairs Of
The self-seeker is warned by the open processes.
the earned prefernents the unsehsh devotion OF all
his official opportunities the good OF others and
OF his country. Statesmen study his patience and
wisdom with profit, and diplomacy sits at his feet
learn the value OF justice, sought by frankness and
sincerity. The domestic lie in every home is sweet
ened and ennobled and beautifed the light OF his
home shines upon it The young taught the value
OF persistence in honest purpose, and the ureness OF
its reward, by the study OF his from the toll
OF a farm the mighty abors and service of the
highest craftsmanship. They may learn from him
that high character is personal structure which
each may build for himself and that sordd surround
/ ings and the uncean in life cannot tarnish
/ it, but are cleansed by it.
The whole country pauses to pay the tribute of
respect TO his successor in the Presidency and the
company OF faithful friends and fellow countrymen
who remembered the sixtieth anniversary OF his
birth and visited his old home to do honor to his
memory and impress his high example.
Judge Day properly characterized the address
that occasion delivered by President Roosevelt as
adding classic to the literature OF eu1ogy." The
exordum and peroration OF that eulogy should be
repeated and remembered The philosophical tone of
President Rooseves mind shines resplendenty in the
effort Who can fail to be impressed by the rev.
erent and hopeful sentence with which the address
began? Throughout history, and indeed
through all history it has been given to only few
thrice favored men to take marked a lead in the
crises faced by their several generations that there
after each stands as the embodiment of the triumph
ant effort OF his own generation President McKin-
ley was one OF these men," What language could
better describe his place or thoroughly affirm
the Immortality OF his fame?
Passing to the peroration the President put
therein the duty which the living must learn from the
dead I'VE can honor him best by the way we show
in actual deed that have taken to heart the lesson
OF his life We must strive to achieve each in the
measure that he can something of the qualities which
made him leader OF men, mighty power for good
his strength, his courage, his courtesy and dig
nifty his sense of justice his ever present kindness
and regard for the rights of others He undertook
mighty tasks Some OF them he finished completely;
others we must finish and there remain yet others
which he did not have to face, but which, If are
worthy heirs of his principles, will in turn
face with the same resolution, the sanity, the
same unfatering belief in the greatness OF this coun-
try. and unfalterng championship Of the rights OF all
OF our people, which marked his high and splendid
career
1t is OF interest to us all the present and future
OF the country that the inspiration of life be
so wholly felt and passed to his fellow countrymen by
the President who walks straighty himself in the
path toward which he guides his fellow citizens.
The fashion set by this anniversary observance al
Canton will be permanent. The anniversary of Nc
Kinley's birth will be formally observed each year
not as partisan but patriotic duty, and all The
high lessons of his lie will be perpetuated and trans
lnted to future times as inspiration to keep per
feet the American character he we'll represented.
: The United States Senate has been discussing The
annoying possibility that there may be some irregular
: ity in canal treaty with Colombia. Uncle San
" should have taken the ordinary commercial precau
ton in drafting the treaty, to except errors oms
edness.