Western Reserve chronicle. [volume] (Warren, Ohio) 1855-1921, 1868-04-22
WHOLE NO. 1890.
The Murder of Thomas D,Ar-
CIV McGRa.

cy mcGees
The assassination Of Hon. Thomas
Darcy McGee, on Tuesday morning. 7th
inst, as he was passing 70 his home along
the quiet midnight street Of Ottawa, after
nights debate in the Canadian Parlia-
ment, will create an excitement almost as
great in Canada as the murder Of Presi-
dent Lincoln did IN the United States
The high position of the murdered man,
the probable political character Of the
crime, its suddenness, coming in the midst
Of peaceful and quiet order, and the mys-
terry which hangs over it, combine 10 at
tract the attention of the entire civilized
world, which stands aghast in horror be-
| foro such deed. This horrible and most
foul murder is the best event for its victim
and the worst for its perpetrator that
could have happened. THIS age of ciViii-
zation and of law abhors assassination as
/ the most dastardly and despicable of
crimes, and the common sympathy Of
mankind goes with the assassinated, while
/ the execrations and curses of all Christen-
dom follow the assassin. So poor McGee,
the eloquent, scholarly, and accomplished
politician, goes to the stars by a martyrs
path, and plying world gives his mem
o-y the sympathizing and charitable re-
gard which his faults so greatly need;
while on his murderer, Justice waits with
drawn sword TO punish, and History with
recording pencil to write them down COW
ards and villains.
At the present writing, with only such
few facts concerning the murder known
as the telegraph has vouchsaied to US, it IS
not clearly evident that the murder was
political one, but every suspicion points
that way, and it seems the only reasonable
hypothesis on which the fact can be ac-
counted for. There IS nothing to indicate
that the attack was made for the purpose
Of robbery-Indeed every fact known goes
10 show that the murderer had no such
object. Nor could any personal malice,
IN all probability have been intense
enough to find vengeance only in death
The most probable theory of the matter is
that the murder was done by some person
or persons in sympathy with FenIanism,
and with the intention of promoting the
Fenian cause If this be the case-and
whether 1t is or not the Developments of
two or three days viii very soon show-it
will be the most damaging thing that
could ever have happened to the Fenian
cause just as the assassination Of Lin
coin completed the ruin Of the COnfeders-
cy in the good opinion Of all impartial
men, so the deep damnation of McGee's
taking off has branded Murder" on the
Fenian forefront It will be long before
the Fenian cause recovers, if it ever does,
from the stigma of brutality, babarism
and cowardiee which this act will afix to
it
Thomas Darcy McGee had reached the
age of forty-nine at the time of his foul
murder. He is a defendant of one of the
oldest families of Ireland, and was borne
IN the county of Antrim in that Island.
In his early youth he took a prominent
part in politics, engaging with much earn
estness, energy and eloquence in the
OCOnnell reform movements in Ireland
He soon became identified with the Young
ireland party, under the magnificent lead
e-ship of Smith O'Brlea, and Joined with
! it in its earnest efforts for Irish independ-
ence. When, IN 1S4S, these efforts bro't
the party into one resistance to the gov
ernment, resulting in its fatal overthrow
and defeat, MeGee was fo-ced to fly 70
France, whence he soon came to this
country. After few months in the UNI
ted States he became resident aud citizen
u
and widely known public man. He en-
tered politics an advanced Liberal, Irish
by birth and Catholic BY religion, but,
spite of both, devoted adherent to Free
dom. He has been almost constantly in
Parliament for more than ten years, and
has several times filed a position in the
Canadian Cabinet As q literary man,
also, McGee has won very high reDuta-
ton. BE had tke fnlI Hibernian GIT of
warmth Of imagination and splendor of
diction, and so become perhaps the fore
most orator among Canadian statesmen
| As a writer and lecturer he had also won
renown. OF late years his liberality in
politics had considerably 'alienated him
from his countrymen, and he had been
denounced as q turn-coat. He mas been
Especially decided in his opposition to
Fenianism, and that opposition has drawn
down on him the especial hostility of the
Fenian order. Last year he made . visit
to England, being received there with
much attention, and delivering several
speeches upon ireland and Canada of
great ability and force. On the very
night of his murder he had made a stump
speech in Parliament on the Nova Seotla
question, just now the exciting question in
the politics Of the Dominion, and was OH
his way home from the Parliament ses-
sion, when he was murdered on the thresh-
old of his house by an assassin yet un-
known. His sudden and mysterious death
has caused intense excitement throughout
Canada. Men of al parties unite in de-
ploring his loss and denouncing his mur-
derers, and if it be proved that the sssas-
sinstion was done by Fenisns, the whole
people Of Canada will become q solid unit
IN opposition to such an order of assassIns.
The perpetrators Of this most dastardly
murder are undiscovered. It is possible
that they may have sought an asylum in
tho United States. If they have, we trust
that Ou= government may spare no pains
in hunting them out and delivering them
to the Canadian authorities. The United
States has suffered, and, in the presence
of Andrew johnson, still suffers too keen
/ ly f-om the effects of political assassina-
ton, ever to fail to bear its most emphatic
testimony against that crime.-Lsade1'.
/