The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1904-01-30

Riders, millionaire and pauper alike,
that so far as manhood goes, that is
the only test. and there is no other di
ference in the human family to be recOg-
the Observation-Disclosures Roosevelt.
PATHETIC REFERENCE TO
M'KINLEY.
Beloved Mckinley has been mention
ed in your hearing, and it calls up to
memory the fact that tonight is a eele-
years ago, I attended the funeral of
Mckinley in the rotunda of the capitol
at Washington. That was q sad day,
calling up to the youthful memory when
people were weeping about the streets
when Lincoln was dead. There in the
rotunda, borne in on the stalwart
shoulders of the men of our army and
navy, came the mortal remains of Nc
kinley. Around him were the supreme
court, the senate and the house, the
diplomats, the heads of the army and
navy. Around his coffin was wrapped
the old flag that he had followed as a
youth down the Shenandoah valley. At
the head of the coffin sat bishop of
the Methodist church, a small choir to
the left, while the light of that sad
September day came through
the painted glass. Silence reigned:.
Through the air came the sound of that
wonderful hymn, Nearer, My God, to
| Thee" One whose patriotic soul sat
under that spell can never forget it.
The aSSemblage waited. There were
vacant chairs on the right. No one
knew why they waited All was ex-
pectation. Governors of the states were
there. Newspaper correspondents of
every known country language and
nation were there. The world knew
that a great soul had been called. Why
did they wait? Finally the great doors
yonder flew open wide, and in came a
young man, with the tread and spring
of an athlete an Indian. Leaning
upon his arm was his young and at
tractive wife; behind was their son.
They were conducted to a seat over
here at the right, and sat down. Every
one looked upon the dead. Every one
looked upon the living. There was Nc
Kinley, dead, at the end of his career.
He had brought north and south to-
gether. He had so welded the states
| in the Spanish-American war that the
old flag was once more waving over
! the capitolS at Montgomery and Rich
mond. Little flags were in the lapels
of the southern girls all over the south
| There was a revival of patriotism that
had been dead for 40 years. Mckinley
| had fought his fight. He was opposed
! White House, he walked the floor
| alone. He knew what it was to have
vacant chairs in the homes of America
He knew what it was to the mother to
| look for the son who would never re-
| turn Mckinley sought to avoid it, but
when once in he conducted himself in
| the quarrel in way none will ever for
| get He reunited the Union, and not
only that, but he put tyranny out of
Spain forever, and his successor, after
| the conflict was ended and all had been
done, lowered the flag and brought it
| back to your land and mine. McKin-
| ley had finished his work
On the one side my friends, you look
| 1Ipon the dead Over here on the other
| side you look upon the new president.
We could say in our hearts, as lovers of
| this great land: Heaven bless the old.
Heaven guide and direct the new pres
ident.''
GREATEST THING IN THE WORLD.
Recently I have been asking various
persons what is the greatest thing in
the world. I asked young lady of
| twenty and she instantly responded,
Love" I asked a soldier and he said,
1.-THE great battle and the glorious vic
| tory" 7 asked a painter, and he said.
| 1.-THE greatest painting in the world by
| one of the old masters" I asked a
| politician and he said ITO be elected
/ to the greatest office by the greatest
majority" 1 asked a good old mother,
aged seventy years, wrinkled and worn.
| I said to her. What is the greatest
thing in all the world?" oh she said,
IF 1 could be young again: if l could
| be eighteen, with pearly teeth, rosy
cheeks and lips: if I could feel once
have loyer. if could be a bride
once more led to the altar on the arm
of a manly man. worthy Of love If I
could be a mother, and hear once more
the patter of the little feet and feel
once more the pulling at the dress of
the little one-oh, it would be the great
est thing in the world"
Young men, I say tonight the great
est thing in the world is manhood itself.
For the manly man the whole universe
seems to have been planned, regulated
and created StaIwart manhood to do
and will And who is the greatest
MAJ? He who conquers himself and