Rensselaer Semi-Weekly Republican, Volume 22, Number 104, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 17 September 1901 — “Without Fear and Without Reproach.” [ARTICLE]

“Without Fear and Without Reproach.”

Our McKinley is dead. His mighty mind will guide no more. His tender heart has ceased to feel. Again, for the third time within the memory of men not yet old, the hand of a foul murderer has struok down our president in the very height of his usefulness and glory. And eaoh of these three martyred presidents have been the very flower of the noble manhood of their day and generation. And eaoh president to whom fate has been thus unkindest, have themselves been, pre-eminently, above all other rulers, the kindest, tenderest and lovingest of men. And in this quality of a noble, loying, tender heart, not the saintly Lincoln nor the Able Garfield, could scarcely equal our latest martyred leader. “May God forgive him” were the first words that sprang from McKinley’s heart when he realized the deadly murderous act of the man before him. They were the Christlike words of a Christlike man. % And truly if ever one of our great American leaders ever came dose to the Christlike ideal of noble manhood, in all the aspects of his life and nature, that man was William MoKinley. What man, what woman, what child, ever received from him any act of injustice? Ever heard from his lips any word of unkindness, any thought of impurity, any thought of blasphemy? MoKinley combined in himself, in a remarkable degree, the best qualities of all of our best presidents. He had the dignity and the exalted personal character of Washington, the kindness of Linooln and of Garfield; the patience and persistency of Grant; the courtesy of Arthur; and the clean tongue of Harrison. “The sweetest man on earth,” said of him one of his strongest and most outspoken political opponents. And the greatness of*' his intellect equalled the sweetness of his nature. Every one of his public speeches, every one of his publio papers, every one of his publio acts attest the supremely commanding qualities of his mind. He was a truly great leader and every coming > ear will more and more justify and approve the greatness of his statesmanship. Farewell, MoKinley! Friend and lover of all men. “Without fear and without reproach.”