The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1903-09-14
Nj M'KlNLEY'S STATUE.
First One i'm Ohio Is Unveiled
at Toledo.

Toledo. o., Sept. 14.-Toledo is en- fete
today over the unveiling of the Nc
kinley statue, the first memorial to the
bate president erected in Ohio. After a
naval parade on the river. including the
United States gunboat Michigan and
the training ships Yantic and Hawk
and a procession led by a battalion of
United States infantry the statue which
stands fronting the court house was
unveiled .hy Miss Dorothy Bonner Col.
( J. c. Bonner. president of the Memor-
ial association, in a brief address pre-
sented the monument to the county and
Henry Conrad, president of the board
of county commissioners. accepted the
trust on the part of the county. Senator
NJ. \. Hanna was then introduced as
honorary president of the day. and
made a brief extempore address. A
ldedicatory poem by Theodore McManus
was read by the author and the orator
of the day, Senator Charles w. Fair
banks. of Indiana, was introduced The
senator said:
THE place of William Mckinley in
history is secure. We are not too near
the events of which ne was a part cor
rectly to measure his proportions. nor
do we look with too partial eyes upon
what he did We know the great share
he bore in the significant events
through which he passed. and we have
faith to believe that the judgment of
his contemporaries will be confirmed
by history, when with impartial hand
she shall record the deeds of men.
You honor yourselves in honoriue
him You make the future your debtor
by erecting this statue in commemora-
ton of his life and services. for like his
immortal prototype. Abraham Lincoln.
he belongs to the agesl Hitherto the
lovers of American institutions VIII
come in the numbered years before MS
and derive new hope and new inspira-
tion. Similar monuments will rise il
other lands to which peoples not of our
race will pay their homage The people
of Cuba whose liberty was secured
through his genius and Statesma anship,
will erect monuments in his honor. SO
also the people of Porto Rico, and ths
far off Philippines, will raise enduring
memorials to perpetrate to the furthest
ages the memory of the president VINO
carried to them the blessings of repub-
lican government.
1T seems but yesterday that VIII
liam Mckinley stool among US. at the
very zenith of his power. He possessed
in full degree the affections AMI :. n
fidence of MS countrymen. end his
name was a beneScent one Throughout
the world. Without warning the cruel
bolt fell. We stood sDeechlesS in the
midst of uncommon sorrow. Our great
and beloved leader, by some mysterious
providence, fell in the Dlenitude of his
strength Upon the day of his sep
ulcher, rulers and peoples in many for
eign lands united in impressive memo
rial services and the flags of all ma
tions were in mourning. Throughout
the great republic busy trade stood
still, the telegraph was silent. and as
by some common impulse steamship
and railroad trains stopped, and the
people uncovered in the streets or
knelt in the sanctuaries. Who knows
but that the divine Master, through this
unspeakable tragedy. sought TO imprint
forever upon the human heart how
splendidly the Just and brave can live
and how beautifully they can die.
Against the dark background of two
years ago stand in sharper outline than
were otherwise possible the high and
noble achievements and the majestic
personality of one of the greatest of
Americans.
After the singing of America" by
the audience. Rev. A NJ Hyde pro-
nounced the benediction. which closed
the services.