THE WORLD'S FAMOUS ORATIONS
come; he deplored its necessity; he strained al- most to breaking his relations with his friends, in order, first to prevent and then to postpone it to the latest possible moment. But when the die was cast, he labored with the utmost energy and ardor, and with an intelligence in military mat- ters which showed how much of the soldier still survived in the mature statesman, to push for- ward the war to a decisive close. War was an anguish to him; he wanted it short and conclu- sive. His merciful zeal communicated itself to his subordinates, and the war, so long dreaded, whose consequences were so momentous, ended in a hundred days.
Mr. McKinley was reelected by an overwhelm- ing majority. There had been little doubt of the result among well-informed people, but when it was known, a profound feeling of relief and re- newal of trust were evident among the leaders of capital and industry, not only in this country, but everywhere. They felt that the immediate future was secure, and that trade and commerae might safely push forward in every field of ef- fort and enterprise.
He felt that the harvest time was come, to garner in the fruits of so much planting and culture, and he was determined that nothing he might do or say should be liable to the re- proach of a personal interest. Let us say frankly he was a party man ; he believed the policies ad- vocated by him and his friends counted for much in the country's progress and prosperity. He 236
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