The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1906-09-18

ence upon high STANDARDS OF integrity
in private life, with obedience to laws
enforced with an equal hand alike
upon the rich and upon the poor. He
would have found assurance for his
faith in the people making straight
any paths which are still crooked in
the fact that, with few exceptions,
American statesmen are patriotic men
of clean lives, honestly and faithfully
discharging their duties to the public,
and that venal practices which would
have been condoned twenty-five years
ago would end the career of a public
man today That the standards of
conduct have advanced, not retro
graded, and that the great body of our
public men are neither corrupt nor
corruptible.
We may be too near the events to
weigh with the impartiality of the
historian the achievements of his ad-
ministration. OF some things it is as
certain now as it will be a century
hence He found the country in the
slough of financial and industrial des-
pond; he left it prosperous as never
before in its history. He conducted a
short and brilliant war which liberated
a people and brought forth a new
nation. He directed a peace of uneX
ampled liberality towards conquered
foe, and the making of a treaty of
peace which took millions of people
under the protection of our flag and
began their tutelage for enlightened
self-government. He set an example
of liberality and fairness in the treat
ment of the people of the far East
which required only remuneration for
offences committed against our citizens
and left their territory unspoiled by
seizure against their will His country
became as never before a power among
the nations, and her flag the only
passport needed to insure the protec-
tion of the rights of her citizens. He
crowned all with a clean life and an
unspotted character, and a devotion to
the simple duties of home and fireside
which have made his name a synonym
for all that is best in the most sacred
relations of son, husband and father.
THE FAITH OF THE PEOPLE.
William Mckinley was devoted to
his country and its institutions. He
did not concur in the Napoleonic the
ory that man in power should under
take to shape events to his own selfish
purpose. He believed the sober sense
of the people of republic was the
ultimate appeal of the statesman. To
every question of public policy he gave
the most earnest and careful thought,
and sought to guide public sentiment
in the channels which he considered
to be the best for the general good.
He delighted to take his countrymen
into his confidence as to his plans and
purposes by frequent visits among
them and frank ntterances in their
presence. He was ever of the people
and kept in touch with them. We
may learn his ideals of the duties OF
chief magistrate in the words spoken
by him of his great predecessor:
What were the traits of character
which made Abraham Lincoln prophet
and master, without a rival, in the
great crisis of our history?"
What gave him such mighty power?
To me the answer is simple; Lincoln
had sublime faith in the people. He
walked with and among them. He
recognized the importance ana power
of an enlightened public sentiment
and was guided by it. Even amid the
yicissitudes of war he concealed little
from public view and inspection. In
all he did he invited rather than
eyaded examination and criticism He
submitted his plans and purposes, as
far as practicable to pubic considera-
ton with perfect frankness and sim
cerity. There was such homely sim
plicity in his character that it could
not be hedged in by the pomp of place
or the ceremonies of high official sta
ton. He was so accessible to the
public that he seemed to take the
whole people into his confidence
Here, perhaps, was one secret of his
power. The people never lost their
in him, however much they
added to his personal
discomforts and trials His patience
was almost superhuman and who will
say that he was mistaken in the treat
ment of the thousands who thronged
continually about him. More than
once when reproached for permitting
visitors to crowd upon him he asked
in panied surprise: Why, what harm
does this confidence in men do me J?
get only good and inspiration
from it.
How unconsciously, yet how truth
fully, in this picture he holds the
mirror up to his own character and
conduct.
No less faithfully has he drawn his
own portrait when saying of him:
kal