St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1894-07-03
PERSONAL SAFETY OF PRES.
IDENTS

The murder of the president OF the
French republic causes more or less
discussion as TO the wiSeSt policy to in
sure the personal safety OF such Off
Gals. 1t seems necessary to, consider
the subject with more thOughtfulness
than has been customary.
United States Senators Morgan and
Sherman have botn been quoted In the
dispatches as saying of the assassina-
ton of President Carnot that the deed
was blow at the peace and justice and
civilization of the world. Senator Nor.
gan. writes the Washington Associated
Press correspondent, was asked wheth-
er or not, in view of the assassination
OF President Carnot and the recent al
tempt on Capriyi, our own government
should now take greater care to protect
presidents from possible danger. The
senator did not think any extra precau-
lions would be necessary. OF course,
he said, it would be wrong to permit
! the president to expose himself unneces-
sarily, but he believed that the people
| of the United States think we'll enough
or their presidents to protect them so
far as any protection could be availing.
The presence Of au unusual guard of
troops or police would DE constant
temptation to ill-disposed persons.
The expression attributed to the dis
tinguished gentleman, IL he Is correctly
reported. seems to be careless one-in-
deed, one he would prefer to revise an d
render consistent with the sentiment
that the peace, Justice and civilization
OF the world are assaIled when such lives
as those of Lincoln. Garfield and Carnot
are sacrificed.
The subject is one that commands
serious, and even aggressive considera-
ton. 1t should not be passed over so
lightly as Mr.. Morgan is disposed to
treatlt. The question of protection is
one, perhaps. Of d iff1culty. certainly has
its painful side; still it one that should
be met and solved.
No three men in the history of the
world have ever been at the head of
governments who from personal char
acter and Official fairness and patriotism
should have been so much exempt from
the shafts of assassins as the three
presidents thus remOrselessly slain.
The question is not personal one.
nor politieal-it is national in the broad
est sense possible. 1t Is not to be ex-
pected that murderous minds and H.
cllnatious can be eliminated utterly
from society. Much may be done if
congresses will be more patriotic, wise
and expeditions in the discharge of
their Obligations, to the end that there
may be little or no substance for social
ism or unrest to feed upon, so that there
may ever and everywhere be a whole
some and pacific sentiment upon public
questions; so that Inflammation, preju-
dice and controversy cannot dominate
OF scarcely arise. But let this condition
become as ideal as possible, still there
something more needed, or the condi-
ton will surely be, if it is not now the
fact, that president takes his life in his
hand when he assumes Office aud re.
mains in Jeopardy until he lays it down.
Instead of assuming, as does Senator
Morgan, that extra precautions are I'M
necessary, the reverse should be the
conclusion. In the provision for pro-
lection congress should delegate what
ever authority or power is expedient to
minimize possible danger. Lincoln,
or Garfield, or Carnot would not
have fallen had the republics done
their whole duty toward the men called
to preside for the time being at the
head of the governments.