The Montgomery advertiser., 1905-02-01
PRAISE OF MCKINLEY.
BANQUET OF YOUNG MEMS CLUB
 AT CANTON, o.
General FitsuGh Lee and General John C. Black Among Those Who Eu- lOglxe the Murdered Presl-
 dent.

Canton, O.. Jan. 31.--In the Com memoration of the late President Mo- Kinley the Young Mems Mckinley Club of Canton tonight held a notable banquet in the Auditorium, Canton's new assembly hall. Vice-President elect Fairbanks occupied the central position as chief guest of honor. Jus tice William R. Day. friend, neighbor and confidant of the late president was master of ceremonies. To his left was Gen. Fttzguh Lee idol and nero of the south. Vis-a-vis sat General Black, one of the heroes of the civil war and former commander in chief of the Grand Army of the Republic. To either side of these guests were Cover nor MyronT. Herrick and Lieut-Gover- nor Warren c. Harding, of O. Tn the banquet hall flanking these guests and orators were congressman and excongressman and party leaders | from Ohio as well as notables from remote states. More than 500 were residents O: Canton and many other persons prominent in state politics. Back of and all around the diners the vast amiptherate section of the hall with its capacity of 5000 people was almost completely filled with audi tors In the midst of the serving of tho menu there was a sudden hush to the festivities and almost as one man the vast assemblaRe arose to their feet and for more than minute stood in respectful silence. The occasion was the arrival or Mrs. Mckinley, wife of the late president She was accom- pained by a large party of friends in- ciuding Mrs. Day, Mrs. Fairbanks, Miss Grace Mckinley; Miss Black. daughter of Gen. Black. They occupied a box during the speaking. Justice Day as toastmaster opened tee speaking pro- gram.
 Vice President elect Fairbanks honor guest of the evening spoke to the toast Mckinley" eulogizing his personal character and paying tribute to his work in bringing about bet ter feeling between all sections.
 General John C. Black spoke on "Comrade Mckinley" He said in closing: .-. ;.
 Tt Is we'll with Mckinley now. Fall len at the meridian of achievement when reconciliation was in the hearts of his once warning countrymen, when instead of hate, love filled the breast of all, when prosperity showered its bles- sings over smiling land, with the whole past secure and the future open- ing long avenues to the feet of the republic and bidding it walk under the
 
 He fell on the very utmost human height, close under the stars when all men loved hi mand in the service of his people and of God; and it may well be said of every act of this mans life outside the mere domain of party be- nests, that every step in his career was luminous with the light of that com radeship whose bonds he assumed in 1861 and which lasted all through his
 
 this was an American President; this comrade of veteran soldiery of the great war"
 Mckinley and the South" was Gen eral Lees subject He said:
 Ohio, it is true, Is the State of his nativity. Her citizens knew and loved the living William Mckinley; her soil is sacred with the grave which marks the resting place of the dead McKin- ley; her people will cherish his lofty character and his splendid services as long as the mountains kiss the heavens or the rivers roll to the sea.
 "Ohio, however. cannot bound his boundless fame, for on the wings Of renown. his glory has been waited tc all parts of the world.
 'Tonight each State which is rep resented by a star in the national crown which binds the American union
 
 cerns the name and fame of the man who sleeps his last sleep in your midst so quietly that no sound can ever wake him to glory again.
 old Virginia is proud of the fact that she gave to the country George Washington. She rejoices, too, that she was the mother of Thomas Jeffer- son. She sent forth also James Madi- son. the father of the constitution Patrick Henry, the great orator ol American liberty. She brought forth too. James Munroe and the great jul. rist. John Marshall. Proud as the old State might be at the career of hel I sons, she is equally proud as ar American State in all that concerns the noble life and great work of Will. s liam McKinley-the typical American 1 citizen.
 ''Tne great men 1 have mentioned . with Adams, Hamilton and Franklin n and other distinguished colleagues { worked out successfully the probIem: h of human government, discovered con = stitutional liberty. caused freedom tC r dwell in our midst and erected popu f lar government which has wideneC e and broadened since their day unti n the national banner floats over nor, V square leagues of land than did tha of Rome after seven centuries O 1 growth.
 We would look more frequentl, e back to those men of the past, who's, = intellectual labors accomplished s, = much. while gazing too upon the grea future enrolling before us, but whethel looking back or looking forward, oul ) hearts and memories should go out tC one whose splendid national work heal = ed scars of war and brought in closel union the men whose loaded guns wer, r once pointed at the breasts of eacl other. He Is the source to a marvel ) ous degree. from which has flowed tn, fraternity of the sections.
 n "'Could l., he once said to me, writ, an epitaph upon my tomb, I would - say: Here lies President of the United States who has done more to brina all sections of a common country into more harmonious and closer friendshiI , than any of his predecessors
 He had fought his last battle; hC has written upon the roll of fame tho !, last record of his great life He ha. %%~~>~~~~~~~~~~~~