William McKinley

IT is noteworthy that no stronger expressions of esteem for our late beloved and lamented president have come from any part of the world than those from the South. “He was a broad-minded statesman,” says a leading Southern democratic paper, “with no sectional prejudices; the best type of an American citizen; a loyal and kindly gentleman; a brave, true man.” Virginia, especially, has shown great sorrow, sending to represent her at the public funeral in Washington, a committee of the constitutional convention now in session at Richmond, and showing in every possible way her recognition of Mr. McKinley’s great qualities and of her personal loss in his death. The observance of Thursday, September nineteenth, as a memorial day was general throughout the South. Impressive services were held in Hampton, at the National Soldiers’ Home and at the Normal School. Mr. McKinley was a lover of humanity—a friend of the common man, of whatever race or color. He was profoundly interested in all undeveloped races, and especially in the Negroes as forming so large a proportion of our population. It was fitting that one of this race should have been among those who helped to disarm his assailant. He appreciated highly Mr. Washington’s work at Tuskegee and made the school a memorable visit in February, 1899. In his speech on that occasion, he said: “Integrity and industry are the best possessions which any man can have and every man can have them. They make happy homes; they achieve success in every walk of life. They give one moral and material power. There is no good citizenship without them. They are indispensable to success; they are invincible”. [sic] No better illustration could be found of the truth of these words than President McKinley’s own career. In life he was an honorable Christian gentleman and statesman; in death, a Christ-like soldier. With General Armstrong, he put “God and country first”; himself afterwards.