been the idol of a great party for more than half a century, not for the ideas he gave the organization, but because he was "Old Hickory." "I will fight it out on this line if it takes all summer," expressed the indomitable and resistless purpose of Grant. The immortal speech at Gettysburg condensed the patriotism and pathos of Lincoln. The triumph of McKinley over obstacles in a career which would have been insurmountable for a weaker man has been due to his absolute sincerity and loyalty. His clear brain and warm heart are always in accord. His sentiment is subordinate to his judgment, but when his mind is made up his emotional nature gives a contagious enthusiasm to his efforts which secures devoted followers and lends a living interest to the discussion of the driest subjects. A boy of eighteen, teaching school to earn money for a college education and deeply imbued with the intense anti-slavery and union sentiment of Ohio, he followed the flag to the front when Lincoln called for volunteers. As soon as he was satisfied that liberty and the Republic could only be saved by fighting for them, his life belonged to his country. It is always difficult to rise from the ranks, and for a beardless boy well-nigh impossible. But in the eighteen months during which he carried a musket he was attracting the attention of the officers of his regiment-and such a regiment! Its Colonel, General Rosecrans, was promoted to the command of the Armies of the Tennessee and the Cumberland. Its OF William McKinley Our Martyr President BY MURAT HALSTEAD FAMOUS JOURNALIST AND AUTHOR As Prepared by Him in 1896 and 1900 in "Life and Distinguished Services of WITH INTRODUCTION BY SENATOR CHAUNCEY M. DEPEW AND SPECIAL CHAPTERS BY GENERAL C. H. GROSVENOR, COLONEL ALBERT HALSTEAD, AND MEMORIAL EDITION, OCTOBER, 1901 TOGETHER WITH AN ACCOUNT OF THE PRESIDENT'S DEATH A. J. MUNSON AUTHOR AND EDITOR ILLUSTRATED WITH MANY HALF-TONE VIEWS AND PORTRAITS MEMORIAL ASSOCIATION PUBLISHERS PUBLISHERS' INTRODUCTION. Our country has been singularly fortunate in having had, at nearly all times, some one statesman whose honesty and wisdom strengthened him to check the disturbing elements of mere politicians, and guide them in channels where serious harm could not be done. On the republic's scroll of fame there is no name that shines with greater lustre because of these qualities than that of William McKinley. A statesman of many parts, and capable in all, whose ear was ever attuned to the voice of the people, and whose deepest solicitude was their welfare, he was an ideal leader in whom the people trusted, and in whom faith was not abused. The career of William McKinley was exemplary. His personal virtue, his purity of character, his honesty of motive, his patriotic purpose, his loyalty to right, his love of justice, his spirit of mercy, endeared him to the people, so that when he was struck down by the assassin they felt the blow as if it had been struck at themselves. The record of such a life and such a career deserves a permanent form as is given by this vol |