Omaha daily bee., 1908-12-15

but his name Breathed out the sweet
ness which you felt he had toward all
mankind.
He was q lover Of peace throughout the
nation and the world. and yet he had more
wars than any president since Lincoln. Are
not the ways Of Providence mysterious In
deed that Lincoln. Garfield and Mckinley.
all lovers Of peace and Of their fellow
men, should be taken off by the hands OF
the assassin It is strange, too, that Lin
coin and Mckinley should have had wars
on their hands. these gentle, peace-loving
men"
McKinIey's Part I'm War.
Mr.. Taft told OF the active part President
Mckinley took in directing the War de-
partment during the Spanish-American
war. and paid tribute to him for his hest,
fancy in rushing into q conflict for which
the country was i'll prepared. Mr.. McKin-
ley. he said, had to stand much harsh crit
icism from the hotheads of the country,
who insisted upon immediate war, regard
less Of preparation.
Some Of us seem to have such sublime
faith in our own abilities and in Provi-
dence that they think we can whip any
country In the world without guns. Some
day We may find out differently. DO you
remember how martial we were when
President Cleveland sent his Venezuelan
message? Well, we had at that time just
one gun down here at Sandy Hook and
that was the only gun we had along the
entire coastline-all the way from Maine to
Florida and from Lower California to
Washington, with which to fight the navy
OF England. But the Lord looked after us.
as they say He does after children and
drunken men. Mckinley knew how I'M
prepared we were and he stood In the
breach and prevented an onrush into hos
tilities until such time until we were at
least able to cope with a nation as unpre-
pared as we were ourselves"
The dedicatory exercises at METROPOLITAN
Temple. Of which Rev. John Wesley Hill
is pastor. will continue Throughout the
week. The morning sermon today was
preached by DIR. James NJ. Buckley. To-
night the invocation was offered by Bishor
Daniel A. Goodsell.
Mr.. Carnegie contributed a large share
OF the 5000 which the organ cost.
Mr.. Taft Sees Few Callers.
Mr.. Taft saw a few callers today and
went for a long walk this afternoon witt
Henry Taft and another brother, Horace
ID. Taft Of WATERFOWL, Conn.
Mr.. Taft gave out some further details
Of the proposed trip TO Panama saying h,
would take along several consulting engi
neers. This has been his custom on tn,
four other trips he has made to tn,
isthmus and is for the purpose of securing
information other than that possible t
the layman. The stories that nave re
Gently been printed about the canal, in
GLIDING one thai the work would only re
suit in failure, Mr.. Taft said had no
caused him 10 plan the trip. but ha,
confirmed his inclination to make the voy
age. He said he might continue his annua
trips to Panama after entering the Whit
House.
THE story about the canal being a failur
has come to be about as regular a featur
as the story in democratic campaigns abou
the electorate going to be bought. 1t come
about October 10 in every campaign" sal
Mr.. Taft
Il think It is a good thing for some on
in authority TO go to the isthmus ever
now and then. 1t tends to stiffen up thos
l who perhaps. are not quite as energeti
: as they ought 10 be and encourages tn
5 faithful fellows who feel they are so ia
= from home that they are working undo
D a bushel. 1t is good for the old man I
/ get around every now and then"
Mr.. Taft deplored the accident on tn
isthmus and hoped few OF the injured me
{ would suffer serious consequences.
3 With reference TO his interview with Cor
? gresham Burton in Washington yesterda!
= Mr.. Taft said he had reiterated his pos
z ton of keeping hands entirely off til
Z senatorial fight in Ohio.