The Life of William McKinley

This historic book may have numerous typos, missing text or index. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. 1901. Not illustrated. Excerpt: ... CHAPTER XX. Magnificent Tributes to Mr. McKinley--Eloquent Eulogies from Celebrities--Grief and Indignation--The President's Virtues and Character Extolled. LJON. WAYNE Macveagh, who was Attorney-General in k * * President Garfield's Cabinet, said at a great memorial meeting in Philadelphia: I am quite incapable of making you any formal address to-night. Others will discharge that duty, and I am here simply as one of you, to stand side by side with you in this expression of our share in the universal sorrow which binds the nation together North and South and East and West as a united people, mourning for their chosen leader, who has been so suddenly and so cruelly taken from them. It has happened to me to know intimately and well each of our martyred Presidents. It is thirty-six years since, in obedience to the request of President Lincoln, I reached Washington in the dim gray of an April morning to find that he was dead. It is just twenty years ago to-night since I sat by President Garfield as he died. It is only twelve days ago that all the joy of reaching home was changed into unutterable grief and pain by learning that President McKinley had been shot; and now he also is hidden from us in the grave. It was eminently fitting that this great and noble city should array herself in the habiliments of mourning and give this solemn and impressive celebration of the feelings of her citizens at the appalling calamity which has befallen us. With the Mayor in the chair, surrounded by this vast concourse of her representative citizens of all parties and denominations and of every walk in life, with solemn music, and with the presence of the reverend clergy, Philadelphia attests her grief in a manner worthy of her and worthy of the affection felt for her by the belov...