Jasper County Democrat, Volume 4, Number 25, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 28 September 1901 — EXTRACTS FROM THE FUNERAL SERMON AT CANTON [ARTICLE]

EXTRACTS FROM THE FUNERAL SERMON AT CANTON

It was characteristic of our beloved President that men met him only to love him.. They might Indeed differ with him, but In the presence of such dignity of character and grace of manner none could fall to love the man. It was said of Lincoln that probably no man since the days of Washington was ever so deeply efishrlued In the hearts of the people, but It Is true of McKinley In a larger sense. Industrial and social conditions are such that he was, even more than his predecessors, the friend of the., whole people. It Is a glorious thing to be able to say In this presence, with our Illustrious dead before us, that he never be:rayed the Confidence of his countrymen. Not for personal gain or pre-eminence would he mar the beauty of his soul. He kept It clean and white before God ami man, ami his hands were unsullied by bribes. ’‘llls eyes looked right on, and his eye-lids looked straight before him."” He was sincere, plain and hottest, Just, benevolent and kind. He never disappointed those who believed In him, but measured up ro every duty, and met every responsibility In life grundly and unflinchingly.' Not only was our President brave, heroic and honest, hr was as gullant a knight ns ever rode the lists for his lady love In the days when knighthood was In flower. It la but n few weeks slue* the nation looked on with tear-dimmed eyes ns It saw with what tender conjugal devotion lie sat at the bedside of bis.beloved wife when all feared.that a fatal tllne“s was upon her. No public clamor that he might show himeelf to the populace, no demand of a social function was sufficient to draw the lover from the bedside of his wife. He watched and waited while we nil prayed --and she lived. This sweet nrtd tender story all the world knows, and the world knows that Ids whole life had run In this one groove of love, it was a strong arm that she leaned upou, and it never failed her. Could the assailant have reallaed how awful was the act he was about to perform, bow utterly heartless the deed, methlnks he would have stuyed his hand at the very threshold of It. In all the coming years men-will seek In valß to fathom the enormity of that crime. Had this man who fell been n despot, a tyrant, an oppressor, nn Insane frenzy to rid the world of him might have sought excuse, but It was the people's friend who fell when William McKinley received tbe fatal wound. Washington saw the beginning of our national life. Lincoln passed through the night of our lilstoiy and saw the dawn. McKinley beheld his country in the splendor of Us noon. Truly he died In the fullness of his fame.