Chapter I: Preface

No figure of modern American history appeals so strongly to the patriotism and love of the American people as William McKinley, and no volume can have greater interest and value at the present day, or be more dearly prized, than a history of his life in which every event of his great career as a noble youth, a gallant soldier, an able lawyer, a brilliant orator, a grand statesman, a brave patriot and an heroic martyr is set forth accurately, and in a spirit of love and reverence.

The author of this memorial edition has produced exactly the volume described.

In graphic words he has described the assassination of President McKinley. It is a word picture that will linger forever in the memory of every reader, calling forth sympathy and patriotism on behalf of the martyr President and undying contempt and horror of the assassin and the foul and cowardly thing called anarchy. Every detail of that now historic scene is told so vividly that the reader sees it as if he were an eye-witness.

McKinley’s gallant fight for life, his cheerfulness, his patience, his tender solicitude for his invalid wife, his trust in God and all the beautiful attributes of his grand Christian spirit are recorded with fidelity to truth and a just appreciation of the nobility of such a grand character.

Nothing in history is more touching and beautiful than the author’s description of the death-bed scene of President McKinley—the tender parting of devoted husband and loving, clinging wife, and the noble resignation of the dying man to the will of the Creator as expressed in the last words he uttered, addressed to his sorrowing wife: “God’s will, not ours, be done!”

Another chapter describes the efforts of surgical and medical science to save and prolong the life so dear to the nation.

With the closing of the last chapters of that fearful scene at Buffalo, the painless death and the national funeral services, the author takes up the boyhood life of William McKinley and follows it step by step, up, up and ever upward to the very summit of his greatness when he fell a martyr to liberty and lawful government.

His early Christian training by his noble mother—“Mother McKinley” as the whole nation learned to call her—who lived to see her boy in the White House, and all the events which went to shape his character are depicted with interest.

Next in order is his career as a soldier in the Civil War—in which the author gives every thrilling incident and exciting experience in which William McKinley figured during that great struggle. Later, it is told how in after years he did so much to reunite the sections of his country and wipe out all bitter memory of that war between brothers.

As a congressman, governor and President, nothing is omitted in this history that is a part of the life of this great American statesman. The history of his campaigns and administrations is given in full, together with his management of the Spanish war, the policy of expansion, the growth of national commerce and all the other great achievements and policies that were a part of his life work.

In other words, this volume is exactly what it purports to be, a COMPLETE life of William McKinley.

The beautiful illustrations in this volume have been made from actual photographs, and reproduced by the well-known half-tone process. There are hundreds of scenes of interest in the life, death and funeral of President McKinley. The pictures of the assassination, the death-bed scene and the places and people of the great tragedy are true to life in every particular and have an historic interest and value for every American citizen.

This volume is in every respect truly a memorial edition of the Complete Life of William McKinley, whose memory will ever remain in the minds of loyal Americans inseparably associated with his two fellow martyr-Presidents, Lincoln and Garfield, and the record of whose patriotic and noble life is contained herein.

TABLE OF CONTENTS.

CHAPTER I.

THE ASSASSINATION OF PRESIDENT McKINLEY.

A graphic and vivid description of the Shooting of the President by
Leon Czolgosz, an Anarchist, at the Pan-American Exposition,
Buffalo—Two shots fired from a derringer concealed by the
assassin under a handkerchief which looked like a
bandage—Different accounts by eye-witnesses—Assassin seized by
James F. Parker, a colored man—Saved from the mob by the
President’s words, “Let no one hurt him”—Scenes among the
horror-stricken crowds in the Temple of Music—The President taken
on a gallop to the Emergency Hospital—Description of his
wounds—How the great man bore the ordeal 33

CHAPTER II.

PRESIDENT McKINLEY’S FIGHT FOR LIFE.

The fateful week at the house of President Milburn of the
Exposition where President McKinley lay wounded—His coolness,
bravery and cheerfulness—Physicians and country hopeful—President
shows signs of recovery—How he was nourished—Scenes in the
President’s apartment—His sudden relapse—Hopes of the nation
dashed by the news 41

CHAPTER III.

DEATHBED SCENE OF PRESIDENT McKINLEY.

Friends and officials called back—President regains consciousness
after first relapse—Pathetic parting between the President and
Mrs. McKinley—The farewell Kiss—“God’s will, not ours, be done,”
his last words to her—“Nearer My God to Thee”—Dr. Rixey remains
to the end—Unconscious for hours before dissolution—A Christian
deathbed scene that will remain forever, a beautiful and
inspiring memory 57

CHAPTER IV.

THE STORY OF THE ASSASSIN.

Description of Czolgosz the assassin—A Pole by birth—Boasted that
he was an Anarchist and believed in killing the rulers of all
nations—Became an Anarchist under the teachings of Emma
Goldman—How and why he went to Buffalo—Followed the President for
three days seeking an opportunity to kill him—A monstrous
confession—His father and mother found in Cleveland—Poor and
ignorant, but nothing known against them—People who knew the
assassin tell of his belonging to Anarchist clubs and always
preaching Anarchy 65

CHAPTER V.

EMMA GOLDMAN, WOMAN LEADER OF ANARCHISTS.

Description of the woman from whom the assassin learned the
teachings of Anarchy—Text of Emma Goldman’s speech which Czolgosz
says inflamed him to commit assassination—Emma Goldman’s career
as an Anarchist in New York and Europe—Her arrest in
Chicago—Arrest of the “Free Society” branch of Anarchists in
Chicago 76

CHAPTER VI.

ANARCHISM AND ITS OBJECTS.

Definition of anarchy—No two Anarchists agree—Some of the leaders
who have talked, written and acted anarchy in this country and in
Europe—A hellish doctrine that has caused many of the world’s
greatest men to fall by the hands of assassins—Complete history
of anarchy from Proudhon to the present day—Review of anarchistic
agitation and murder—Story of the Haymarket assassinations in
Chicago 89

CHAPTER VII.

SCENES AT BUFFALO FOLLOWING THE ASSASSINATION.

Wild anger of the people at the appalling crime—How the assassin
was guarded against the popular wrath—Grief and anger mingled—The
location of the Milburn house—The President’s clothes—What he had
in his pockets—Senator Hanna’s remarkable dream of warning—The
devotion of Private Secretary Cortelyou 99

CHAPTER VIII.

DAYS OF ANXIETY AND SORROW.

How the American people watched and waited, hoped and prayed while
the President lay ill—All the civilized world shared in the
sorrow and anxiety—World-wide grief at the President’s
death—Rulers of the world eulogize the dead President—Their
messages of sympathy 107

CHAPTER IX.

PRESIDENT McKINLEY’S LAST SPEECH.

Greatest speech ever made by the President delivered on the day
before the assassination—World-wide in its influence and uniting
the American people in praise of his wise statesmanship—Great
honors shown the nation’s chief on the day before his
assassination—Events of a day to be memorable in American history 115

CHAPTER X.

WILLIAM McKINLEY’S BOYHOOD.

His Scotch-Irish ancestry—His sturdy sire, William McKinley,
Sr.—The Christian influence of Mother McKinley, who lived to see
her boy in the White House—Early occupations of the future
President—Supporter of Fremont and Lincoln—Early days at Niles
and Poland, Ohio 123

CHAPTER XI.

McKINLEY AS A SOLDIER IN THE CIVIL WAR.

Enlisted as a private and won a commission by gallant and heroic
conduct—Under fire at Antietam and other historic
battles—Promoted by General, afterwards President, Hayes—Brave
and modest—Stories of his experiences in battle 129

CHAPTER XII.

McKINLEY IN CONGRESS.

Elected in the Centennial year—Soon gave evidence of legislative
ability—Chairman of the Ways and Means Committee and leader of
his party in the Lower House of Congress—Fourteen years of
memorable work—Some of his memorable speeches and debates—How his
district was “gerrymandered” in order to defeat him—A marvelous
legislative record 141

CHAPTER XIII.

McKINLEY’S LIFE WAS PROTECTION’S ERA.

First champion of Protection for Protection’s sake—Made his policy
the policy of his party and the nation—Growth of the country’s
industry—His last speech substituted Reciprocity for Protection 161

CHAPTER XIV.

McKINLEY AS GOVERNOR OF OHIO.

Twice chosen as chief executive of his state—First nomination by
acclamation—A campaign that carried the people with him—Governor
McKinley and the labor troubles—Always stood for law and order
and sympathized with honest labor 169

CHAPTER XV.

McKINLEY AS A CAMPAIGNER.

His winning personality in politics—Believed in the people and knew
how to convert men to his way of thinking—His methods of
campaigning—His wonderful knowledge of politics—Campaigns of
education—McKinley a wonderful speech-maker—Talks to workingmen
and business men on the lawn at Canton 177

CHAPTER XVI.

GOVERNOR McKINLEY’S FINANCIAL TROUBLES.

In trying to assist a friend his small fortune is swept
away—Governor McKinley and his wife turn over all of their
property to meet his obligation—Friends come to the rescue and he
is relieved from owing any man a cent—The story of how W. R. Day,
H. H. Kohlsaat, Myron T. Herrick and Marcus A. Hanna stood by
Governor McKinley in his hour of need—Governor McKinley’s
attitude above criticism 185

CHAPTER XVII.

McKINLEY’S LOYALTY TO SHERMAN, BLAINE AND HARRISON.

Friendship between three great statesmen—McKinley always an
enthusiastic Blaine man—His honorable attitude toward the Ohio
statesman—Thrilling scene in a National convention when delegates
attempt to stampede to McKinley—How he stopped his own nomination
for President and brought about the nomination of General
Harrison by acclamation 189

CHAPTER XVIII.

FIRST NOMINATION FOR PRESIDENT.

The sentiment of the people strong for McKinley’s nomination in
1896—The other candidates—History of the great National
Republican Convention at St. Louis in 1896—Foraker set the
delegates wild with his speech nominating McKinley—First ballot
secures his nomination—Historic political scenes and
characters—Hobart named for the second place 195

CHAPTER XIX.

THE GREAT CAMPAIGN OF 1896.

Men and issues of a memorable national campaign—William Jennings
Bryan as McKinley’s opponent—Gold vs. Silver—How the issues were
stated by leading debaters—Bryan’s speech-making tour—Pilgrimages
of the people to Canton—McKinley receives thousands of voters at
his home 213

CHAPTER XX.

THE SPANISH WAR CLOUD.

How President McKinley exhausted every means in his power to
honorably settle the Cuban trouble and avert war with Spain—Brief
history of the causes leading to the war with Spain—Wisdom and
patriotism of President McKinley—A war for humanity 221

CHAPTER XXI.

McKINLEY’S OWN STORY OF THE SPANISH-AMERICAN WAR.

In a celebrated state paper the President reviews the entire
history of the Spanish war—His able conduct of the war—Every
great historical detail of the struggle for humanity set forth by
President McKinley—An historical document that will remain
forever as a true record of President McKinley’s humane and wise
statesmanship 227

CHAPTER XXII.

McKINLEY AND EXPANSION.

Great amount of territory acquired by the United States under
President McKinley—The story of American expansion—President’s
policy toward the people of our new possessions—The greatness of
President McKinley’s Expansion policy—What it meant to the nation 251

CHAPTER XXIII.

SECOND PRESIDENTIAL NOMINATION AND ELECTION OF McKINLEY.

Complete history of the Philadelphia convention of 1900—McKinley’s
renomination a foregone conclusion—Senator Wolcott’s great eulogy
of President McKinley—Theodore Roosevelt named for Vice-President 263

CHAPTER XXIV.

PRESIDENT McKINLEY AND THE CHINESE CRISIS.

Prompt action by the President following the boxer uprising—Cause
of the trouble—The siege of Peking—The United States joins the
powers to rescue the besieged legations—China appeals to the
United States to prevent the powers from dividing the
Empire—President McKinley’s attitude results in a just settlement
of the trouble—A remarkable chapter on President McKinley’s wise
diplomacy 271

CHAPTER XXV.

McKINLEY: BUILDER OF A WORLD POWER.

A complete history of the foreign policy of President McKinley
during his two administrations—How he built up the nation to be
one of the great powers of the world—The master work of his life
was in giving the United States its proper place in the family of
nations—Results that will rank with those of Washington and
Lincoln in adding to the greatness of the American nation 281

CHAPTER XXVI.

PRIVATE LIFE OF WILLIAM McKINLEY.

A model son and husband—His courtship of Ida Saxton—Their
marriage—Two children bless the union, only to die in
infancy—Mrs. McKinley’s health shattered—The “Major’s” devotion
to his invalid wife—William McKinley, the highest type of
American manhood, and a model for every American boy and man 293

CHAPTER XXVII.

McKINLEY’S EULOGY OF LINCOLN.

Full text of an address delivered by President McKinley on
President Lincoln’s Birthday anniversary 298

CHAPTER XXVIII.

PRESIDENT ROOSEVELT TAKES THE OATH OF OFFICE.

The new President sworn in at Buffalo—A simple ceremony tinged with
the gloom of tragedy—Biography of President Roosevelt, soldier,
author, statesman—A review of one of the most remarkable careers
in history 304

CHAPTER XXIX.

GREAT EVENTS OF THE WORLD DURING PRESIDENT McKINLEY’S ADMINISTRATION.

A chapter of happenings of world-wide importance, many of which
were influenced by the late President 321

CHAPTER XXX.

THE FUNERAL SERVICE AT BUFFALO.

Private funeral of William McKinley, the man and citizen, held at
the Milburn house—Touching scenes of last farewell—Simple but
beautiful services 330

CHAPTER XXXI.

LYING IN STATE AT BUFFALO.

Body of the President viewed by thousands in the city hall—All
classes of people present—Italian women remove the shawls from
their heads—Indians drop flowers on the casket—Eloquent tributes
of Indian chiefs—Thousands brave a storm and drenching rain to
gaze on the features of the nation’s beloved dead 339

CHAPTER XXXII.

THE FUNERAL TRAIN TO WASHINGTON.

Thousands line the route—Bells toll, choral societies sing, people
stand uncovered and reverently bow their heads as the train
passes—Outward signs and emblems of a nation’s grief such as were
never before witnessed in the world—Complete story of the journey
to the National Capital 345

CHAPTER XXXIII.

THE LAST NIGHT IN THE WHITE HOUSE.

President’s body taken to the White House from the funeral
train—Awe-inspiring scenes at the station—President McKinley’s
happy departure for Buffalo recalled—Body placed in the great
East Room 349

CHAPTER XXXIV.

FUNERAL SERVICES AND PROCESSION AT WASHINGTON.

National funeral services held in the rotunda of the Capitol,
directly under the dome—Body brought from the White
House—Description of the procession—Rev. Dr. Naylor’s eloquent
prayer—Bishop Andrews’ funeral sermon 357

CHAPTER XXXV.

LYING IN STATE AT THE CAPITOL.

Crowds throng the Capitol building at Washington for a last look at
the martyr-President—Complete description of the scene—A panic
caused by immense crush—Beautiful floral designs—The last day at
the seat of national government 367

CHAPTER XXXVI.

THE ASSASSIN ARRAIGNED.

While the President’s body was lying in state in the National
Capitol, the assassin was arraigned in court and attorneys enter
plea of “not guilty”—Text of the indictment 375

CHAPTER XXXVII.

THE SAD JOURNEY TO CANTON.

Route of the funeral train from the National Capital to the Ohio
home lined with mourners—Journey through Maryland and
Pennsylvania—Touching incidents on the way—Through Ohio—Arrival
at Canton, a city of sorrow 381

CHAPTER XXXVIII.

CANTON BATHED IN TEARS.

How the people of Canton received the body of their fellow
townsman—Grief in every heart 387

CHAPTER XXXIX.

FUNERAL SERVICES IN ALL CHURCHES.

First Sunday after the death of President McKinley—All sects and
creeds unite in eulogy—Sad and impressive scenes 395

CHAPTER XL.

CANTON’S FAREWELL TO McKINLEY.

Friends and neighbors take their last view of the dead
President—Many pathetic and beautiful incidents mark the final
leave-taking 404

CHAPTER XLI.

McKINLEY LAID AT REST.

Complete account of the funeral and burial of President
McKinley—Beautiful and impressive ceremonies—Soldiers guard the
tomb 415

CHAPTER XLII.

NATION OBSERVES BURIAL DAY.

Services held in every part of the United States—The old world
joins in observing McKinley’s burial day—Five minutes of silence 425