Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-06-07
HONOR TO M'K|NLEY
Grafton at Dedication of
Statue in Philadelphia.
JAMES NJ. BECK'S TRIBUTE
Policies of Martyred President
Exploited.
HIS TOLERANT POSITION
The Great Idea of Expansion Which
Gave Lasting Significance
to His Career.
JAMES N. BECK'S TRIBUTE
POSITION

Beck formerly assistant attorney general
in the Mckinley administration. today
delivered the GRAFTON at the dedication of
the Mckinley statue on the south side of
the plaza of the city hall in this city.
After speaking of Mckinleys career as
soldier legislator and executive. and
justifying the insular policy as the crown
ing achievement of his career. Mr.. Beck
said in part:
While we cannot raise the veil of the
future. yet we can proudly claim that the
immediate results of Mckinley's policy of
expansion have been for the good of the
republic and the greater good of civiliza-
ton. With greater truth than the third
Napoleon. we can say: The republic is
peace
| Never was its power greater. its in
| fiuence more peaceful or its honors more
unsullied 1t has become the great
arbitrator of nations. It's only dip
iomacy has been that of trans
parent candor. and to it in the
last decade. the world has looked for
a just solution of many intricate problems.
When Picking was In state of revo-
luton while the soldiers of the republic
marched shoulder to shoulder with the
soldiers of England. Germany. Russia
and Japan. to the relief of the beleaguered
legations. 1t was America which took the
listed with China when China was
threatened with dismemberment 1t was to
President Mckinley that it turned for
protection. and through him its integrity
was largely preserved.
Softened Terms of Peace.
1t was our country which softened the
terms of peace. returned the unused por-
ton of it's indemnity and secured the
policy of the .''open door - When the
Russo-Japanese war again threatened to
involve the integrity of Chinese territory
it was to President Roosevelt that Kaiser
Wilhelm turned to enlist his good offices to
secure a restriction of the field of oper-
alton.
1t was again our country which brought
Japan and Russia. after a bloody war.
into friendly conference and secured the
treaty of Portsmouth. The Hague con-
ference may owe it's initiative to the
car, but it owes its continuance and
beneficial results in large part to the
American policy as formulated by Nc
kinley and carried forward by Theodore
Roosevelt
/ have dwelt at some length upon this
policy of expansion. as for 1t William
Mckinley will be longest and most-grate-
fully remembered. This was the great
idea which gives lasting significance to
his career and ranks him with Washing
ton. Jefferson and Lincoln. Behind Wash
ington was the idea of independent
America: behind Jefferson. that of con-
tinental America: behind Lincoln, that OF
united America behind Mckinley. that OF
cosmopolitan America
Spanish-American War Incident.
On the eve Of the Spanish-American
war a committee of the board of trade of
an Ohio city came to the White House
10 urge him. as citizens of his own state.
to declare war.
1t happened that Captain Sigsbee of the
Maine was in the executive room when
the committee was ushered in. and. after
the delegation had stated its purpose.
the President excused himself for a mo-
ment turned to Captain Sigsbee and.
clasping his hand. said in voice suf-
ficiently loud for the Ohio delegation TO
hear him:
Captain Sigshee. you never did finer
thing for the honor of your country than
which after the explosion Of the Maine
you requested your fellow-countrymen TO
suspend judgment"
The delegation took the gentle hint and
departed wiser il sobered men.
Last Public Utterance.
Like the farewell address of Washing
ton. his last public utterance was a plea
not only for greater America. but for
peace on earth. good will among men,.
| God and man." said he. have linked
the nations together. No nation can
longer be Indifferent to any other" and
then, with hands outstretched as if in
benedction in the clear sunshine of that
| September day. he preyed that God will
gracefully vouchsafe prosperity and peace
| to all our neighbors and like blessings to
| all the peoples and powers of the earth.
| Such was the last public utterance of
William Mckinley.
| On the following day. with his accus
toned graciousness. tie President stepped
from the eminence from which he had
| addressed the people and stood on level
with them. extending. their friend and
| brother the right hand of fellowship TO all
who sought it. To old or young. rich or
poor. powerful or weak. native born or
| fregn born to one and all, that never-to-
beforgotten kindly glance and the genial
clasp of his right hand.
Moment of Popular Triumph.
1t was in that moment of popular tri-
umph and overlooking good will that a
miserable wretch betrayed him with a
treachery to which there is hardly a par
ailel in baseness since Judas Iscariot be-
trayed his Master with kiss.
From the lips of the man who stood
next to him. and after the fatal shot en-
| circled Mckinley with his arm. l have
| within few days again heard the tragic
tale. After the fatal bullet struck him.
Mckinley stood erect like a soldier. and
then. without change in his countenance
or a tremor in his voice, said to Mr.. Mil
1 burn:
Did that man shoot me-"
! Il fear he did, Mr.. President was the
| sad reply.
! The President then noticed a dozen
strong arms which had seized the assassin
! and threatened to tear him limb from
! limb Let no one harm him" the Presi-
dent said calmly. No utterance could
have been more characteristic 1t was
! not maudlin sympathy. but desire that
| even this base wretch should not be the
| victim of mob rule. Again he thus held
| inviolate the honor of his country and the
majesty OF law.
/ MISSIONARY CHILD LABORS.