Wausau pilot. [volume] (Wausau, Wis.) 1896-1940, 1901-12-10
70 the Senate and House of Representa-

Ter the shadow of a great calamity. On
the sixth of September, President Mo
kinley was shot by an anarchist while
attending the Pan-Amcrican Exposition
a. Buffalo, and died Ill that city on the
fourteenth of that month.
or the last seven elected Presidents,
De is the third who has been murdered,
aud The bare recital of this fact is sutii-
cient to justify grave alarm among all
loyal American citizens. Moreover, the
circumstances of this. the third assassi-
nation Of an American President, have a
peculiarly sinister significance. Both
President Lincoln and President Garfield
were killed by assassins of types unfor-
tunately not uncommon in history; PreSi-
deRt Lincoln falling victim to the ter
rible passions aroused by four years Of
civil war, and President Garfield to the
revengeful vanity of a disappointed office
seeker. President Mckinley was killed
ny an utterly depraved criminal belong
ing 10 that body of criminals who object
To all governments, good and bad alike,
who are against any form of popular hb-
Prty if it is guaranteed by even the most
Just and liberal laws, and who are as
hostile to the upright exponent of a free
peoples sober will as TO the tyraanlcal
and irresponsible despot.
IL is not too much TO say that at the
time Of President MckinIey's death he
was the most widely loved man in all
the United States; while we have never
had any public man of his position who
has been so wholly free from the bitter
animosities incident 20 public life. There
could he no personal hatred of him. for
he never acted with aught but considera-
ton for the welfare of others. The de-
Tenders Of those murderOuS criminals who
seek to excuse their criminality by assert
ing that it is exercised for political ends,
inveigh against wealth and irresponsible
power. But for this assassination even
this base apology cannot be urged.
When President Mckinley was assas-
Siuated the blow was not aimed at tyran-
nv or wealth T. was liWol ~ che Of
the strongest champions the wage work
or has ever had; at one OF the most faith
full representatives Of the system Of pub
JIG rights and representative government
who has ever risen to public office. Presi-
dent Mckinley filled that political office
for which the entire people vote. and no
PreSident-nOt even Lincoln himself
was ever more earnestly anxious to rep
resent the well thought-out wishes of the
people; his one anxiety in every crisis
was TO keep in closest touch with the
pcople-tO find out what they thought
and TO. endeavOr to give expression to
their thought after having endeayOred
TO guidC that thought Alright
That there might be nothing lacking
TO complete the Judds-like infamy of his
act, the assassin took advantage Of an
occasion when the President was meeting
the people generally; aud advancing as
il 20 take the hand OutStretched to him
in kindly and brothcrly fellowship. he
turned the noble and generous confidence
Of the victim into an opportunity to strike
the fatal blow. There is no baser deed
"a all the annals of crime
Nation Mourns Mckinley.
The shock, the grief of the country, are
bitter in the minds of al We mourn a
good and great President who is dead:
but while we mourn we are lifted uD by
the splendid achievements of his life and
the grand hcrOism with which he met his
death.
When we turn from the man to the ma
rion, the harm done is so great as 10 ex-
rite our gravest apprehensiOns and to de-
IRand our wiseSt and most resolute ac-
ton. This criminal was a professed an
archist, intiamed by the teachings of pro-
fcSSed anarchists, and probably also by
the reckless utterances of those who. on
the stump and in the public press, appeal
10 the dark and evil spirits of malice and
greed, envy and sullcn hatred. The wind
S sOwed by the men who preach such
tuctrlnes, and they cannot escape their
share Of responsibility for the whirlWind
that is reaped.
The blow was aimed not at this Presi-
Dent, but at all Presidents; at every sym
Dol Of government. Anarchy is no more
ln expression Of social discomfort than
picking pockets or wife beating The an
3rChiSt, and especially the anarchist in
The United States, is merely one type of
criminal, more dangerous than any other
because he represents the same deprayity
n q greater degree. The man who add
vocates anarchy directly or indirectly, in
any shape or fashion, or the man who 1
apologies for anarchists and their deeds,
makes himself morally accessory to muir
der before the fact. The anarchist is a
criminal who is not merely the enemy of
system and of progress, but the deadly
foe of liberty. lie is not the victim of
social or political injustice. There are
no wrongs to remedy in his case The
cause of his criminality is TO be found in
his own evil passions and in the evil con-
duet of those who urge him on, not in
any failure by others or by the State 10
DO justice TO him or his. He is a male
factor and nothing else. No man or body
of men preaching anarchistic doctrines
should be allowed at large any more than
if preaching the murder of some specified
private individuals AnarchiStic speeches,
writings and meetings are essentially Sc
ditious and reasonable.
b Urge, Law \ gaiust Anarchists.
| earnestly recommend to the Congress
that in the exercise of its wise discretion
il should take into consideration the COM
ing 70 this country of anarchists or per-
sons protesting principles hostile to all
government and justifying the murder of
those placed in authority. If found here
they should be promptly depOrted to the
country whence they came; and far
reaching provision should be made for the
punishment of those who stay. No mat
ter calls more urgently for the wiSeSt
thought of the Congress.
The federal courts should be gwen
jurisdiction over any man who kills or
attempts to kin the President or any man
who by the constitution or by law is in
Hnc of succession for the presideny, while
the punishment for an unsuccessful at
tempt should be proportional to the enOr-
nifty of the offenSe against our inStitu-
lions.
Anarchy is a crime against the whole
human race; and all mankind should
hand AGAINST the anarchist. His crime
should be made an OffenSe against the
law OF natiuuS. 1t should be so declared
by treaties among all civilized powers.
This great country will not fall into
anarchy and il anarchists should ever
become a serious menace 10 its institu
tons, they would not merely be stamped
cut, but would involve in their own ruin
every active or passive Sympathizer with
their doctrines. The American people are
slow to wrath. but when their wrath is
once kindled it burns Ike a consuming
FIRE
CouutrS's Commercial Prospe -ity.
During the last five years business con
6dence has been restored. and the nation
l. TO be congratulated because of its pres
ent Astounding prosperity. Such prosper
ity can never be created by law alone,
although it is easy enough 10 destroy II
by miSChievouS laws. Fundamentally the
welfare of each citizen. aud therefore the
welfare Of the aggregate of citizens
which makes the nation. must rest upon
individual thrift and energy, resolution
aud intelligence. Nothing can take the
place Of this individual capacity; but wise
legislation aud honest and intelligent adj
miuiStratiOn can give il the fullest scope,
the largest opportunity to work 10 good
effect
The tremendous and highly complex in
dustrial development which went on with
ever accelerated rapidity during the lat
ter half OF the nineteenth century brings
rs face 70 face, at the beginning of the
twentieth. with very serious social prob
lens. The upbujlding Of the great in
3pstrial centers has meant startling in-