Page:The Biographical Dictionary of America, vol. 07.djvu/192

 Mckinley

Mckinley

and commercial systems, that we may be ready for any storm or strain. By sensible trade ar- rangements which will not interrupt our home production, we shall extend the outlets from our increasing surplus. A system which provides a mutual exchange of commodities is manifestly essential to the continued and healthful growth of our export trade. We must not re{X)se in fan- cied security that we can forever sell everything and buy little or nothing. If such a thing were possible it would not be best for us or those with whom we deal. We should take from our customers such of their products as we can use without harm to our industries and labor. Reciprocity is the natural outgrowth of our won- derful industrial development under the domestic policy now firmly established. What we produce beyond our domestic consumption must have a vent abroad. The excess must be relieved through a foreign outlet, and we should sell anywhere we can and buy wlierever the buying will enlarge our sales and productions and thereby make a greater demand for home labor. The period of exclusiveness is past. The expansion of our trade and commerce is the pressing problem. Commercial wars are unprofitable. A policy of good will and friendly trade relations will prevent reprisals. Reciprocity treaties are in harmony with the spirit of the times ; measures of retalia- tion are not. If perchance some of our tariffs are no longer needed for revenue or to encourage and protect our industries at home, why should they not be employed to extend and promote our mar- kets abroad ? . . . Next in advantage to having the thing to sell is to have the convenience to carry it to the buyer. We must encourage our mer- chant marine. We must have more ships. They must be under the American flag, built and manned and owned by Americans. These will not only be profitable in a commercial sense ; they will be messengers of peace and amity wherever they go. We must build the Isthmian canal, which will unite the two oceans and give a straight line of water communication with the western coasts of Central and South America and Mexico. . . . Let us ever remember that our inter- est is in concord, not conflict, and that our real eminence rests in the victories of peace, not those of war. . . . Our prayer is that God will graciously vouchsafe prosperity, happiness, and peace to all our neighbors, and like blessings to all the peoples and powers of the earth." By a special proclam- ation, the day of the funeral, September 19, was made a day of mourning and prayer throughout the United States, all business being suspended and memorial services being generally held. In foreign countries the recognition of the Presi- dent's death was unprecedented. By command of King Eaward VII. a memorial service was heid

in Westminster Abbey and was attended by be- tween 2000 and 3000 p)ersons, including many dis- tinguished Americans, Edward VII., being rep- presented by Lord Pembroke. As a further mark of respect all the exchanges in the kingdom were closed, the government buildings had their flags at half-mast and many stores were draped in black. A memorial service attended by six thou- sand people, and conducted by the Archbishop of Canterbury, Dean Gregor}" and fourteen other clergymen was held in St. Paul's Cathedral, Lon- don. Unusual honors were paid the President's memory in all the foreign capitals and impressive memorial services were held in St. Petersburg, Brussels, Vi- enna, Berlin, Rome, Paris, Constantino- ple, Pekin, Bombay, and elsewhere, at- tended by high dignitar- ies. At the service in Ber- lin all the im- perial and Prussian cabi- net ministers were present except Chan- cellor von Bil- low, who was absent from the city ; and all the foreign ambassadors and ministers in the city were also in attendance. Emperor William order- ed the flags to be half masted throughout the navy. The public manifestations of grief that followed the death of President McKinley were unprece- dented in the history of the world. The scenes in Buffalo ; en route to Washington ; in the East room of the White House ; on the passage of the funeral cortege from the President's house through Pennsylvania avenue ; around the body resting in state for one day in the rotunda of the Capitol ; at the state funeral attended by accred- ited representatives from all the governments of the world ; on its last journey to Canton attended by President Roosevelt and his cabinet ; in his home and home church, where the solemn rites of religion were pronounced, previous to final sepulture, are a part of history. When the time arrived for the body to be committed to the grave in Westlawn Cemetery, Canton, Ohio, the whole country was for a few moments undisturbed by motion created by the hand of man. The hum of industry was hushed, trans- portation was brought to a halt, and a nation ^tood with uncovered heads, bowed in grief. The Piesidentdied in Buffalo, N.Y.,Sept. 14, 1901.