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] |
| CHAPTER XLIII. | |
| ASSASSINATIONS OF LINCOLN AND GARFIELD. | |
| Complete story of the manner in which our other two martyr-presidents were shot down by assassins | [431] |
NOTABLE ASSASSINATIONS AND ATTEMPTS OF RECENT TIMES.
George III. of England, attempt by Margaret Nicholson on August 2, 1786, and by James Hatfield on May 15, 1800.
Napoleon I. of France, attempt by use of an infernal machine on December 24, 1800.
Czar Paul of Russia, killed by nobles of his court on March 24, 1801.
Spencer Percival, Premier of England, killed by Bellingham on May 11, 1812.
George IV. of England, attempt on January 28, 1817.
August Kotzebue of Germany, killed by Earl Sand for political motives on March 23, 1819.