The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1905-06-13

particularly appreciative of the good
will and commendation OF Christians
and often expressed himself as CRATE
full for their support, and coveted the
prayers of such as had learned to
plead with God. His contribution to
the cause of practical religion is be-
yond computation.
"No service in the memory of Presi
dent Mckinley could be complete
which did not refer to his military
caresr for here also he gained we'll
merited distinction. The flag had
been dishonored. An attempt was be.
ing made to sever the ties that bound
the states together. One flag or two,
one country or two, was the question
to be settled. With thousands of 9th.
ers young Mckinley volunteered to
protect and sustain the fundamentals
of our national existence. 1t would
not be in harmony with the spirit OF
this hour to enter into full discus
sion of that period of his life, but one
lesson at least should be emphasized
and II is this, that fidelity character
lied every action as elsewhere.
Without display he performed each
duty, no matter how perilous. He
may have been conscious of danger
but he did not attempt to escape it.
! Where duty called, he went, went
quietly, unassumingly, and always did
the work entrusted to him. The mere
question of personal danger was over
| shadowed by the duty that impelled
No one would have dreamed such
| things who saw that beardless boy
but here are the facts: At seventeen
private soldier, at twenty-one a ma
! jor, at fifty-four comClander.in.chie
| by virtue of his office, of the armies
and nayies of the United States, nor
was it an empty title When the wa
with Spain came on, this cautious
leader, well knowing the horrors of
war, hesitated, but when the supreme
moment arrived ii was a brave spirit
and an intelligent mind that directed
affairs. No more geenrous command
er ever dictated terms of peace
There was but one thought, absolute
fairness and as much leniency as com
ported with the safety of the nation
and the peace of the world.
AS statesman, the fame of Nc.
Kinley is amply secure. Mr.. John
Hay. than whom no one living could
speak more intelligently asserted that
he was a postmaster in the art of
craftsmanship A diligent student of
the resources OF the country, and of
the necessities of trade and commerce,
1t was easy for him to comprehend
the relation of one interest to another.
Coupled with this, a wide and happy
acquaintance with leading men of all
classes and parties, with profound
respect and love for humanity at
large, and we find basis upon which
real craftsmanship may rest. The
last address delivered by him at Buf.
falo, was the product of a cultured
mind and showed a thorough knowl-
edge of the principles of National
prosperity.
1T was proud moment for the
president. His pastor had expressed
regret that he had determined to go
into that crowd and take the risks of
such an act but he said. This is a
gathering of all the Americas. the peo.
pie expect me, , am their president
and must be there To another. n
nelghbor, he said, If anything han
pens to me, ] want you 10 know that
am prepared to meet my Cod And
so, as a benignant and wise father
cares and plans for his children. he
calmly discussed problems in which
markets and manufacturers were
prominent features, declared reciproc.
ity was in harmony with the genius Of
the age, while the spirit of retalja.
tion was utterly foreign to it. then
lifting his hands in blessing. he com.
mended his country to the care of It's
great Ruler and with supreme conf.
dence in Him, and in the future turn.
ed towards the tragedy which was
hidden from him and from us bat n
few short steps in the future. He
recognized the existence and severn.
ity of God His addresses and state
papers abounded with references IN
Him. The very last words uttered by
him in public address on the occasion
OF his speech at Buffalo but a few
brief moments before he was stricken
down by the assassin were these:
Our earnest prayer is that God
will graciously vouchsafe, prosperity.
happiness and peace to all our neigh.
bors, and like blessings to all the
people and powers of earth
Referring to him further as n
Christian II is pleasant to remember
that in speaking to number of Chris
tian ministers and friends who called
upon him at the white house, discus.
sing the Philippines, he said, L walk
ed the floor of the white house night
after night until midnight, and | am
not ashamed to tell you, gentlemen,
that | went down on my knees and
prayed for light and guidance more
than one night before the answer
came, but when it came, | was salts.
fed
In the same interview he said, 4
am Methodist, nothing but a Metho.
dist, a Christian and nothing but q
Christian, and by the blessing OF
Heaven,l mean to live and die, please
God, in the faith of my mother His
mothers God was his and he revelleu
in the thought, In early manhood he
gave his life to his Divine Master, and
like Paul he kept the faith until he
finished the course. At the same time
there was an utter absence of cant