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.
