Evening journal., 1906-08-29
The Life of McKinley.

William Mckinley was named after hia
father. The elder William Mckinley was
boru in 1907 He was pioneer in the iron
industry In the West. He married Nancy
Allison, who, like himself, was Of New
England Puritanlcal stock, and together
they were a remarkable couple. Mr.. Nc
Kinley, Sr., lived to be 6S years OF age.
Bis wife, who bore him nine children. .
was nearly so years OF age when she died,
eight years ago. She had lived TO see
her third son In the White House, but
fortunately the grim reaper gathered her
In his harvest before he met his un-
timely end. This son, the seventh child,
was born at Niles, IN Trumbul county,
o., IN a frame house which Is still stand
ing. He attended the public schools In
the city OF his BIRTH and later was grad
uated from the Poland Seminary. As a
boy he was much like other boys, active,
full Of life, fond Of hunting, fishing and
horses, but withal sober and industrious
He was not possessed Of a rema rkable
sense Of humor and could not always see
a Joke. When 10 years Of age he Joined
the Methodist Church, and attended Il
as a communcant until the day that he
died in Buffalo. still strong IN the belief
OF his boyhood and still passionately
fond OF his church's great song, Lead,
Kindly Light"
Just after Joining the church he entered
Alegany College, at Meadville, Pa, but
broke down, and after somewhat regain
ing his health taught a district school
near Poland, o., until the Civil War
broke out. He enlisted and for IA months
marched in the ranks Of the Twenty
third Ohio as q private In Company Il.
In April, 1862, he was made commissary
sergeant. and at Antietam-the bloodiest
engagement Of the war-he distinguished
himself by coming on the firing line. after
the men had fought all day, and serving
the boys with hot coffee and rolls as
they stood rapidly firing their muskets
IN the thick Of battle. For this deed OF
bravery he was commissioned a second
lieutenant. In all he was In more than
30 battles and sklrmishes, and came out
OF the war a captain. Before being mus
tered out OF service he was advanced ouu
more peg by brevet, and to the end OF
his days his old friends knew m-by that
weliearned title-Major Mckinley.
After the war young McKinley-he was
then but 22-took up the study OF law
in The Office Of Charles 2. Glidden, Of
Poland-a Judge OF ability and learning.
He graduated from the Law School at
Albany, n. Y, IN 1867, was admitted to
the bar and opened an Office at Canton,
o.. then a hourishing town OF some 5000
inhabitants. He made a considerable
success at the practice OF law, but his
growing prominence In the political arena
soon oyershadowed his legal successes.
His nrst political distinction came with
the nomination for the office OF prose-
cutting attorney OF Stark county, o.,
reputed stronghold Of the opposition. BE
won. Two years later, or In 1871, he was
renominated and was beaten by 45 votes In
q county that usually beat the candidates
Of his party by several hundred. In the
same year be married Miss Ida Saxtons
a woman who was destined TO have
wonderful influence upon his subsequent
career. Two children were born to the
pair and both died and the mother never
| recovered from the blow. She has been
an Invalid for nearly 30 years now, and
the touching devotion and tenderness
shown to her by the assassinated presi-
dent were among the most beautiful
things Of his career.
In 1877 Major Mckinley took his scat
in the congressional halls Of the nation
| as a representative Of his old Ohio dis
/ trict During his service in the House be
: won great popularity In Washington, and
was frequently urged TO become candl-
date against Speaker Reed for the posi-
tion Of presiding officer, which the latter
| filled with such brilliant force. at the
Republican convention in 1884 Mckinley
| In a short, sharp, strong speech, rallied
the Blaine forces and won the nomination
| for the brilliant Maine statesman, who
was defeated. -Four years later, after he
and the Ohio delegation had been In
structed for Sherman, certain delegates
began voting for him and he only pre-
| vented the convention from stampeding
for him In what was, perhaps, the most
remarkable speech OF his career. Il do
not request demand," be closed, that
no delegate who would not cast reflection
on me shall cast a ballot for me-" Nc
Kinley voted for Sherman TO the end
though the Republican nomination went
to Harrison that year.
Mckinley, during Harrlsons admins
tration, as chairman Of the Ways and
! Means Committee Of the House, fathcred
the famous Mckinley Tariff Bill. and, In
1891, after he had been defeated by a
! gerrymandered district the year before,
was elected governor Of Ohio with a pu-
rality Of 10000. In 1898 be. having in
the meantime. again declined the presi-
! Dental candidate, led his party TO victory.
| plurality OF more than $4,000. In 1895
| and again IN 1900 Mckinley, as the presi-
dentlal candidate. led his party to victory
| Then, one year later, came the tragic end
in Buffalo. His great speech at the Pan
| American-his last, It proved-deivered
two days before his assassination, Is rec
ognized as a MASTERPIECES OF American
thought:
''The period Of excluslveness is past"
| he said 'The expansion Of our trade and
commerce is the passing problem. Com
mercial wars are Improbable. A policy
OF good will and friendly trade relations
will prevent reprisals. Reciprocity trea.
ties are In harmony with the spirit Of the
times; measures OF retaliation are not.
: Let us ever remember that our interest
/ is in concord, and not conflict, and that
/ our real eminence rests In the victories Of
peace aud not those OF war We hope
that all who are represented here may be
moved TO higher and nobler efforts for
their own and the worlds good. and
1 that out OF this city may come not only
greater commerce aud trade for US all,
/ but. more essential than these, relations
OF mutual respect confidence and friend
ship which will deepen and endure. Our
earnest prayer TO Goo Is that God will
graclously vouchsafe prosperity. happiness
and peace 20 all our neighbors and like
blessings to all peoples and powers OF the
| earth"
md these words were destined TO be q
martyrs henediction on all mankind.
| SAMUEL WILLIAMS HlppLER.