The Daily Ardmoreite. [volume] (Ardmore, Okla.) 1893-current, 1907-10-04
THE MCKINLEY MONUMENT.

IL has been said that republics are
ungrateful, but the people OF re ,rb.
lies sometimes, by their manifesto.
tions of affectionate regard, prove
the exception to the rule. There tas
seldom been an exhibition OF the love
and affection Of the people for a de.
parted citizen equal to that witnessed
at Canton. Ohio, on Monday, when
representatives Of the republic for.
mally dedicated magnificent monu.
ment to the memory Of the martyred
Pre- dent william Mckinley. Cut
down at the very zenith of his illus
trious career by the bullet OF the vile
assassin. who disarmed suspicion by
the preferred hand OF friendship,
President McKinley's death was one
OF the nations deepest sorrows. Nor
was the sorrow OF the people spent In
tears. From every part OF the land
loving tributes to the common fund
were made that the appreciation OF a
mighty people might be evidenced IN
craven stone as a testimonial to the
sterling virtues OF the noble man and
great statesman.
Half a million dollars was contri.
buted by popular subscription for the
erection OF the magnificent mausol.
cum. and most OF the contributions
were small. This very fact is the at.
test Of the peoples love and makes
the monument the more sacred. II Is
probable that twice as many individ-
ual offerings as there were dollars in
the monument fund combined TO max"
the sum. and In addition to the cost
of the monument an endowment OF
100000 was provided to the end that
as long as tine shall last this tribute
of a nation shall be maintained I'm.
violate. That the President OF the
United States and all OF the promin.
ent officials and dignitaries OF tho
land should assemble at the dedlca-
tion was fitting. None the less not
able is the fact that thousands of
others In the humber walks OF life
should journey from all parts OF the
country to be present at the exercis-
es. William Mckinley was one of the
plain people, and for this all the peo.
His tragic death emphasized their af-
fection and crystalized 1t into the
movement which was so fittingly con
summated at Canton on Monday.
But once before In recent years
have the people OF this country been
called upon to erect shaft to the
memory of slain executive, and II
Is noticeable coincidence that the
two most imposing monuments that
have been erected to the memory of
assassinated Presidents are located
within a few miles of each other The
Garfield monument AT Lakeview ceme-
terry. In Cleveland perpetuates the
memory Of President James A. Gar.
field. In the diseased mind of Char
les Giteau there may have been the
semblance Of justification for his das-
tardly deed of shooting President
Garfield In the back. because Giteau
had been disappointed in his politi-
cal aspirations at the hands of the
man whom he killed, but for utter
whntonness and diabolical cumming
the murder OF President Mckinley
has not been paralleled in history
In both cases It has appeared to be
the desire of the people to forget alb
solutely the very existence OF the as
sassins while with the same unan.
unity Of purpose they have determin
ed TO perpetuate the memory OF the
victims Of these wretches with hewn
and craven piles. which shall be as
during as the everlasting hills
Fort Worth Record.
-o+o