The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1901-12-04

IL shadow OF great caamitN On the si&th
10 of September. President Mckinley shot
by an anarchist while attending the PAN.
American exposition at Buffalo. and died in
that city the fourteenth of that month
or the last elected presidents. lie s III
third who has been murdered aud the bare recital
Of this fact is smhicen, to Justify alarm among
all lnyal American citizens Moreover the circun'
stances OF this. third ssina ton Amrr
president hay" peculiarly sinister Significance
fiol President fincoln and President Garfield VIE
killed by assaSsius Of types unfortunately
common in history: President Lincoln falling vi"-
tim to the terrible passions aroused by ,ou, y",us
of civil and President Garfield the reveng"fu
vanity of disappointed offce.seakeI. ltesdrn,
Mckinl", killed by utterly depraved criminal
belonging that body nf criminals who object
all governments. good aud bad alike. who against
any form of popular liberty If ii IL suaran"cd ny
even the most jus, and liberal laws. and who are as
hostile t" the upright exponent Of free peoples
sober viii to the tyrHnnical and irresponsible
dcsput
1t Is not to" much H. that at III" lime IT
president Mckiney> death he was the most wide,
loved man in all the United States: while We have
never had any public man OF his position who has
been wholly fice from the bitter anmosIties in, i.
dent to public life. Ills political opponents the
first TO bear the heirtieS and tribute
ia the broad knulincss "f nature" the sweetness 'nd
-cntel"ss of character which enderrd him to mis-
close associates 10 standard Of lofty integrity in
public life he united th. tender affections and home
virtues which a-mp"rtan, in the nak"np Of
national character. gallant soldier in the great
FOR tn" Union. he also shore example
all people because "f his conduct in the
sacred aud ntn,at" nj home relations. Thee co,tl
he personal hatccd "f him for h.
with aughi hnt consideration for welfare of
others. No could fail to resper, him who ku, "
him in public privat" life The defenders t!os.
muidcrolis criminals VIII" seek Il" Their crni-
nay by asserting tnar i, i. exercised Tor political
ends nvrich against wealth irresponsible. ,ow-r.
But for This assassination even this has" apology car
b. urged,
President Mckinley of in"d-rat.'
means, "A man whose stock sprans from the sturdy
O hrlO NJ
the wage-wo,ker*. who had entered the army :
private soldier Wealth struck when IN.
president assnssnated. Int the honest ioh wh!h
content With moderate gains after lifetime ~
mnroinit,inc labor. largely In the servic" OF pun
lie. Still less struck in the that
power is irresponsible or centered in the hands OF
any Individual. The blow aimed Il
tyranny OF wealth. 1t was aimed of the strong
champions the wase-workcr has had al
OF the most faithful representatives. OF the s>--
TEN of public rights and representative government
who has ever risen TO public office President Me-
Enley illed that political office which
tire people vote. and no prcsidentnot Lincoln
himsclf-was ever more earnestly anxious O rnp,r-
the we'll thought-out wishes of the people: his
one anxiety in every crisis was to keep in clos, 81
touch with the pcople--,o find what they thought
and endeavor give expression 10 their ,hough,,
after having cndeavorrd 10 guide that though, Alright
He had just bee. reelected the presidency ,"-
cause the ority of citizens. the ma ority of
farmers and workers. believed .ha
had faithfully upheld their interests for fonr years
They felt themselves in close and inns with
him. They felt that he well
honorably all their ideals and aspirations Thai r"v
wished him to continue for another four Years "a
represent them.
And this was the man Whom the assassin
struck. That there might hc nothing lacking 10 c,,-
pete the Judas like ntamy Of his act, h" took
taEe of an occasion when the pr..siucn,
The people generally: and advancing If take
the hand out-streched him in kind, and irothc,ly
fellowship. he turned HE noble and S.rero,.s roni-
dence Of the victim into opportunity strike
fsta blow Their" is no has"' deed in al h" annals
of crime
The shock. the grief Of tie country. ar. bitter in
tho minds Of all who The dark days. while "a.
president hovered between life and curh Ar last
the light stillcd in the kindly eyes and ,l ble.h
went from rhe lips that IN mortal agony uttered
words of forgiveness his murderer o.
love for his friends. and Of unln,tcrinr trust In the
will OF the Most High Such death, "r"woine In"
glory of such life. leaves us with infinite soriuw,
but with such pride what he had accomplished dri
in his own personal character that feel lie n,ow,
not as struck nj him. bui as struck at the nari"n.
We mourn good and great president who IL dead:
hut while we mourn We ar. lifted up by th" splendid
achievements of his life and the grand h"ro~m with
which he met his death,
When We turn nom The The nation, l
harm done Is 50 great TO excite graves appr.-
tensions ard to demand our wisest ana most rasout,
action. This criminal professed anarchist, in
famed by the r"aGhines Of rrotessed anarchists and
probably ALSO by the reckless uterances Of lhu,,.
who, the stump and in the public press Appeal tr
the dark and evil Spirits OF malice and greed envy
and sullen hatred. The wind is sowed by the men
who preach such doctrines and they cannot nsru,.
their share of Responsibility for the whirwiud ,hsl
is reaped. This applies alike TO the deliberate d,...
sosue 10 The eNpoit"r "f srnsatonaism, and 10 me
crude and foolish Visionary who. for whatever rraSnn
apologies for crime -Nrites aimess dsconlent
The bio" was aimed moi at this president, bul -
all presidents; al every symbol of government Pros
dent Mckinley was AS rmphnticaliy the embodlmru
of the popular will of the nation expressed through
,he forms OF law as New England town meeting
rs N similar fashion III" embodiment OF tine Law
abiding purpose ani practice ot the people Of III.
he