The Hand at the Helm

As an integral part of the people of the United States, we students mourn with the nation that any hand should be found ready to strike down him that represented our government and nation, and in himself embodied the highest national virtues. We felt that we knew William McKinley when we read, at the time of his California trip, accounts of his devotion to his stricken wife. Americans value higher than genius or intellect the domestic virtues. Often we see their admiration of these qualities causing them to follow men otherwise unworthy. But in McKinley, we found not alone these virtues, but a commanding intellect that was able to carry us safely through a dangerous crisis.
     And now how little we can say or do to show that he really was dear to us, and that our hearts are rent because of his loss. We loved him for what he was, man and President, and so the hues of mourning on our campus really reflect our emotions.