The Washington herald., 1907-09-06
GOV. HUGHES MAKES SPEECH
Pays Tribute to Late Chief Execu-
tive of NatiOn-MOnument One OF
extraordinary Beauty-Big Crowd
in Attendance Driven to Cover by
RainstOrm in the Afternoon.


thousands Of visitors are in town enjoy
ing the festivities. From all appearance
the Pan-AmeriCan exposition might be
open again. The day resembled very
much that on which President Mckinley
was shot six years ago.
The Mckinley monument is in the form
Of an o6elisk OF pure white marble, resem-
bling somewhat the Egyptian obelsk in
Central Park, New York City. The shaft
itself is sixty-nine feet high, seven feet
square at the base, and rests on a pedes-
tai twenty-four feet high. The base Of
the pedestal covers a plot Of ninety feet
In diameter. This plot was given by the
1 city Of Buffalo. while the monument It.
self was erected by the State Of New
York. The total cost aggregated about
Sl35.00O
The monument is singuarly beautiful
The tapcTing shaft was cut on remark
ably graceful lines, and the whole ap-
pearance of the memorial shows strength
simplicity. and dignity.
On two sides OF the pedestal is inscribed
IN the marble the record Of William Me
Kinley, the soldier and statesman. At the
four corners Of the pedestal at the base
OF the shaft are four sleeping lions. of
heroic size. sCulptured by Phinister Proc
tor. Of New York, who went to the zoo in
Central Park for his models
The monument was prepared from plans
studied in comparison with all Of the most
famous nfOrtuary columns in the world.
and when it is completed. with the park
which is 10 surround it, It will rank with
the first monuments of the kind in any
country. 1t is particularly fortunate in the
site, which has eight approaches OF vistas.
A big crowd was present. A rain
storm drove most Of them TO cover, but
the speech was completed
Gov. Hughes Speech,
Gov. Hughes said:
The memorials Of a free people are
erected TO commemorate public service.
and the distinction of noble character.
The conQueror. lustful of power. and the
seeker after self-aggrandizement, are not
counted among the heroes Of democracy.
The people honor those who in their
service 10 their fellow-men. honor hu-
manity
Here was marked the tragic termina-
tion of great career. Here in an awful
moment there were revealed, in sudden
lurid flash, the opposing forces whose
conflict is the history of mankind At
time OF rare prosperity, when American
industry and commerce We're celebrating
their tTiumphs with every circumstance
Of proud display in city Of almost un-
precedented progress, the powers of dark
ness moved 10 their attack and in an in
fernal frenzy of hate an abject creature
struck down the foremost and best-Ioved
OF American citizens. Never did evil
commit a more dastardly deed The VIC
tim was the chosen representative of the
American people, no less representative in
his death than in his life. The assassiu's
blow was aimed at American institu-
tions, represented in the head OF the na-
ton, aud Mckinley fell because he WAS
our President.
Memory OF MartyrdOm.
In memory Of his martyrdom, in mem
ory O. a heroic death. in testimony TO
the futility of insensate envy. and the
lasting supremacy of law and order. in
memory of a worthy life crowned by its
sad sacrifice. this monument has been
erected.
The vitality Of democracy may be meas
ured by the generosity Of its tributes to
fidelity and It's appreciation of honorable
motive and public spirit. The people must
have faith in themselves, and the zeal
which makes progress possible is not only
intOleraut Of JreaChery TO the public in
terest, but expresses itself in fine en-
thUsiasm for the leaders who have justi-
fed the peoples confidence. Cynicism is
a destroying canker And in proportion
as We revere those who in the past have
borne the burdens of the republic, CRATE
fully recognize our Indebtedness to their
service. and profit by the lessons of their
experience, shall We prove our capacity
TO meet the demands and solve the prob
lens OF a later day In our warm affec-
tiOn. and our tender reverence for those
great spirits, who, IN the providence Of
God, have led US as a people we find the
SuTest basis for our present trust An
ungTateful republic cannot endure.
Executed VIII of the People.
1t is not my purpose in this brief
exercise to attempt TO recount the ser
vices Of him In whose honor We meet
They are an iIaperishable part of the
nations history. Soldier, Representative.
governor, President-these were the
stages Of his distinguished career. Hav-
ing fought gallantly in his youth,
throughout the period Of civil strife. to-
preserve the Union. it was his high privi-
lege in his last years to preside over tbs
destinies- Of the nation when with a re-
vived and intensified national conscious
ness, we assumed the enlarged and un-
expected responsibilities which followed
upon a war carried 10 notable victory
under his leadership and supported by the
people in an unselfsh enthusiasm. for
the cause of humanity.
1t was his happy lot TO be chosen
the Chief Executive of the nation AFTER
a contest which vindicated the sanity
of the public judgment and established
new confidence in the working Of our
popular Institutions. With restored credit
the country under his administration,
quickly recovering from the depression
Of trade. entered upon a period of ex-
traordinaTy expansion and prosperity
William Mckinley sought patiently to
learn the peoples will, and faithfully to
execute It.
Memory Held Dearly.
1T is a significant and gratifying
characteristic of the American people /
that more than the particular benefit |
conferred by service they prize the virtues |
Of character which in the course of SER !
vice are exemDllhed. Fidelity 10 friend |
ship, the exquisite grace Of a husbands /
devotion. the honor of manhood. the
beauty Of the fOrbeRrance OF unwearied |
patience endeaTed William Mckinley 10 /
the hearts of his fellow-citizens. and in 1
their memory eclipse the gIories Of an 1
administration fiattering to American |
pride.
we may see but dimly into the future |
. "a Rvsa 81
OF our modern life, made the more dIfH- !
cult hV the vary r-ichns Of o,,r In }, ,ort.n..-.