HON. WILLIAM MCKINLEY.

Republican Nominee for the Presidency.

His Life and Public Services.

SELDOM in the public life of the statesmen of

this republic has the wisdom of pertinacious, continuous application to one broad issue of national policy as a road to highest preferment been so completely approved as in the career of William McKinley, nominated for President by the St. Louis Convention. Twice his conspicuous championship of protection and home markets for American workmen has almost stampeded conventions to his nomination, when acceptance would have been violative of the high stand, and of personal honor, which has marked his public and private life.

Quiet, dignified, modest, considerate of others, ever ready to postpone his own ambitions in favor of those of veterans of longer service, faithful to friends, unwavering in integrity, tactful in silencing opposition, but unyielding in matters of principle, strong in his sympathy with the toilers, unchanged by success, resilient in hope under defeat, of un

spotted private life, he has won his way to the top as one of the best examples of courageous, persevering, vigorous manhood that the nation has ever produced.

More than any other who has reached his proud pre-eminence, save only Abraham Lincoln, his touch is closest with those "plain people" upon whom the martyred President relied with such unhesitating confidence.

While yet a youth he marched in the ranks, a private soldier, and saw four years of the bloody struggle which made the country all free. In poverty he wrought to acquire his profession. These years of self-denial brought with them the self-reliance and self-control which fruited in his leadership on the floor of Congress at an age when no other American save Henry Clay had ever achieved similar prominence.

He bore his part in great debates in a manner quiet, self-possessed and dignified. His incisive logic, caustic raillery at antagonists, and sarcastic comments on the shortcomings of his own party gave him a mastery in debate which won the admiration even of those who opposed him. Mr. McKinley's personality, like his career, is the fruit of a peculiarly logical and systematic character. Where others knew superficially he knew thoroughly.

This thoroughness and skill in handling a slen

der majority of twenty-two enabled him to pass that tariff bill which bears his name, which found less favor when enacted than it has enjoyed since its revision. He now stands as the embodiment and apostle of that principle.

Strong Hold on the Masses.

It is not easy always to analyze the causes of a popular favorite's hold upon the masses. High principle, personal magnetism, gallantry, boldness even to rashness, great skill in debate or ability as a platform orator-all these may in turn be cited as reasons why a man should be liked or respected. But to awake the love and warmest admiration of a people requires qualities which well nigh defy analysis. It has been Mr. McKinley's good fortune to be able to offer a very large class of his fellow-citizens just what they seemed to need.

He aroused and attracted their sympathies, and this tremendous logical fact is what brought about the overwhelming ground-swell which swept other aspirants off their feet, and landed him an easy winner over men of larger public service and greater brilliance in many of the attributes of statesmanship. "All things come to him who waits," and William McKinley's self-denial stands a chance of receiving its great reward.

Mr. McKinley has a long expectation of life if the longevity of his parents can be taken as an

indication. His father, William McKinley, Sr., died in 1893, at the ripe age of 85, and his mother, Mrs. Nancy McKinley, still lives in Canton, the proud recipient of the unceasing filial attentions of her distinguished son. Mrs. Nancy McKinley's father was of German birth, and her mother was of Scotch descent. William McKinley, Sr.'s, grandfather was a Scotch-Irishman, and his mother was an Englishwoman. Mr. McKinley, Sr., was born in Mercer County, Pa., but his family moved to New Lisbon, Columbiana County, O., in 1809, where for many years he was manager of a blast furnace.

It was in New Lisbon that he met his wife, whom he married in 1838. Two sons, David and James, were born there, but owing to lack of educational facilities the father established his family in a little house in Niles, Trumbull County. It was in this house that William McKinley was born, February 26, 1844. It is worth remark that a considerable number of prominent Americans were natives of counties of Ohio in the near vicinity of Niles.

Cuyahoga, thirty miles away, was the birthplace of James A. Garfield. Senator Allison, of Iowa, lived only thirty miles from Canton, and Senator Manderson, of Nebraska, lived and married only fifteen miles from that city. Ex-Senator Thomas Collier Platt kept store at one time in Massillon,