Rensselaer Journal, Volume 11, Number 17, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 3 October 1901 — Burial Place of Presidents. [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

Burial Place of Presidents.

Those Americans who filed out of Westminster Abbey all possessed by the idea that there should be one burial place tor American presidents were singularly indifferent to the most Impressive feature of President McKinley's funeral. Perhaps if they had been a little nearer home themselves they might then have caught the full meaning of that last home-coming. The man of the people goes back to the people in death as he would have done in life had he survived his term of office. It is that close grip of the neighborhood, of the old circle of friends and acquaintances of the iam,lly, that habit of regarding his

official experience as but an Incident of his American citizenship, that makes him in the truest sense a national character. A great pantheon at Washington would rather separate him. from the people than bring him to them. It would have too much of the official stamp, would have but one narrow significance as regards all its dead tenants, whereas the grave in the distant cemetery gives to the idea of the presidency the broadest significance possible. It is through belonging to bis town, his county and his state that a president belongs in the most intimate way to the nation.

But while the last resting place of the body may be in Canton, or Spring, field, or Cleveland, there is no reason why a national memorial should not be erected at Washington for any president or for all the presidents. A single magnificent presidential arch would have room for many inscriptions covering the succession for many years. Or if it were desired to select one man for special honor the structure might be made a beautifully artistic tribute of regard for him and his work. Such monuments could be built most appropriately in the capital and without affecting the question of burial.

THE TOMB OF THE LATE PRESIDENT M’KINLEY- AT CANTON-FROM A PHOTOGRAPH TAKEN THE DAY OF THE FUNERAL.