President McKinley’s Burial

     The final honors were paid to the remains of President McKinley, at Canton, Ohio, on Sept. 29, and, after the religious services at the First Methodist Episcopal Church, the casket was placed in the vault at Westlawn Cemetery. President Roosevelt and the chief officials of the Government attended the services, and the funeral procession was most imposing. It is estimated that there were 100,000 visitors in Canton. In all parts of the country the day of the President’s funeral was observed as a day of mourning. There was complete suspension of business and memorial services were held in every city and town.
     There probably never was a more genuine, spontaneous national outburst of emotion. In this wonderful expression of feeling great influence is undoubtedly exerted by the character and traits of the man, who exemplified in his life the wholesome and admirable Christian virtues which are the real safeguards of a nation. The manner and circumstances of his taking off,—the infamous character and the deliberately malignant method of the inhuman assassin; the innocence of the victim, which should have rendered him safe from attack; and the noble bearing of the sufferer when the inevitable end came—all conspired to awaken the best sentiments of the whole country. But, in addition to all these contributing causes to the universal expression of grief, there was a cause for indignation and sorrow of equal force. An enemy to free government had aimed a blow at the Republic, and had stricken down the Chief who was the choice of the people.