Cameron County press. [volume] (Emporium, Cameron County, Pa.) 1866-1922, 1907-10-10

who wrote and asked for a copy of
them from President Wheeler. On
the receipt of this copy he sent the
following letter to President McKin-
lev. a letter which now seems filled
with strange and unconscious preset
ence:
Dear Mr.. President:
president Wheeler sent me the in
closed at my request. You will have
the words in more permanent shape.
They seem to me remarkably well
chosen. and stately and dignified
enough to serve-long hence, please
God-as your epitaph. Yours faith
fully, JOHN HAY"
university of California,
office of the President.
"By authority vested in me by the
regents of the University of Califor-
mia, | confer the degree of Doctor of
Laws upon William Mckinley, presi-
dent of the United States, states
man singuIarly gifted to unite the
discordant forces Of the government
and mold the diverse purposes of men
toward progressive and salutary ac-
ton, magistrate whose poise of
judgment has been tested and vindi-
Gated in succession of national emer-
gencies: good citizen, brave soldier,
wise executive, helper and leader of
men, eXemplar to his people of the
virtues that build and conserve the
state, society, and the home.
Berkeley, May 10, 1901"
It would be hard to imagine an
epitaph which a good citizen would be
more anxious to deserve or one which
would more happily describe the
qualities of that great and good citi-
zen whose life we here commemorate.
He possessed to a very extraordinary
degree the gift of uniting discordant
forces and securing from them har-
monious action which told for good
government From purposes not
merely diverse, but bitterly conflict
ing, he was able to secure healthful
action for the good of the state. In
both poise and judgment he rose level
to the several emergencies he had to
meet as leader of the nation, and like
all men with the root of true great
ness in them he grew to steadily
larger stature under the stress of
heavy responsibilities. He was a good
citizen and a brave soldier, chief
executive whose wisdom entitled him
to the trust which he received
| throughout the nation. He was not
only a leader of men, but pre-eminent-
! ly helper of men; for one Of his
! most marked traits was the intensely
| human quality of his wide and deep
sympathy Finally, he not merely
preached he was, that most valuable
| of all citizens in a democracy like
| ours. a man who in the highest place
| served as an unconscious example to
| his people of the virtues that build
and conserve alike our public life, and
| the foundation of all public life, the
| intimate life of the home.
Many lessons are taught us by his
| career, but none more valuable than
| the lesson of broad human sympathy
| for and among all of our citizens of all
| classes and creeds. No other president
| has ever more deserved to have his
| life work characterized in Lincoln 5
| words as being carried on with NAL
| ice toward none, with charity toward
| all" AS a boy he worked hard with
! his hands he entered the army as a
| private soldier: he knew poverty; he
earned his own livelihood; and by his
| own eXertions he finally rose to the
| position of a man of moderate means.
| Not merely was he in personal touch
with farmer and town dweller, with
| capitalist and wageworker, but he felt
| an intimate understanding of each,
| and therefore an intimate sympathy
with each; and his consistent effort
was to try to judge all by the same
| standard and to treat all with the
same justice Arrogance toward the
| weak, and envious hatred of ts)se
well off, were equally abhorrent to his
| just and gentle soul