The Savannah morning news., 1901-12-04

Washington, Dec. $40 the Senate
Housed Representatives The
Congress assemblies this year under
the shadow of a great calamity on
Sept. President Mckinley was shot
by an anarchist while attending the
Pan-American Exposition at Buffalo
and died in that city on the 14th of
that month.
of the last seven elected Presidents.
he is the third who has been muir
dered. and the bare recital of this fact
is SUFFICIENT to justify grave alarm
among all loyal American citizens.
Moreover, the circumstances of this,
the third assassination of an American
President have a peculiarly sinister
significance. Both President Lincoln
and President Garfield were killed by
sssassins of types unfortunately not
uncommon in history; President Lin
coin falling a victim to the terrible
passions aroused by four years OF civil
war. and President Garfield to the re-
vengeful vanity of a disappointed OIL
dce-seeker President Mckinley was
killed by an utterly depraved criminal
belonging to that body of criminals
who object to all governments, good
and bad alike. who are against any
form of popular liberty if it is guar
anteed by even the most just and I'D
eral laws. and who are as hostile to
the upright exponent of free people
sober will as to the tyrannical and IT.
responsible despot.
IT is not too mu@hato say that at the
time of President McKinley'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
hitter animosities incident TO pupilc
life His political opponents were the
FIRST to bear the heartiest ana most
generous tribute to the broad klhdh-
ness of nature, the sweetness ana gen
tleness of character Wmch SO ehueai
cd him to his close associates. 10
standard of lofty integrity in pubic
life he united the tender affections ana
home virtues which are all-important
in the makeup of national character.
gallant soldier in the great
war for the Union, he also shone DIS
an example to all our people
because of his conduct in the most sd
cred and intimate of home relations.
rCbere could be no personal hatred for
him for he never acted with aught
hut consideration for the welfare OF
others. No one could fail to respect
him who knew him in public or prl-
Nate life The defenders of those MUIR
derous criminals who seek TO excuse
their criminality by asserting that u
is exercised for political ends. inveish
acih ~
er But for this assassination even tnls
base apology cannot be urged.
President Mckinley was a man OF
moderate means, a man whose stock
sprang from the sturdy tillers OF the
soil. who had himself belonged among
the wage workers, who had entered
the army as a private soldier Wealth
was not struck at when the President
was assassinated, but the honest toll
which is content with moderate gains
after a lifetime of unremitting labor,
largely in the service of the public.
Still less was power struck at in the
sense that power is irresponsible or
centered in the hands of any one indi-
Vidual. The blow was not aimed at
tyranny or wealth. 1t was aimed at one
Of the strongest champions the wage
worker has ever had: at one of the
most faithful representatives of the
system Of public rights and represen-
tative government who has ever risen
TO public Office. President Mckinley
flied that political office for which the
entire people vote, and no President
not even Lincoln himself-was ever
more earnestly anxious to represent
the we'll thought-out wishes of the
people; his one anxiety in every crisis
was TO keep in closest touch with the
people-to find out what they thought
and to endeavor TO give expression to
their thought. after having endeavored
10 guide that thought Alright He had
just been reelected to the presidency
because the majority of our citizens,
the majority Of our farmers and wage
workers. believed that he had faith
fully upheld their interests for four
years They felt themselves in close and
intimate touch with him. They felt
that he represented so we'll and so
honorably all their ideals and aspira-
lions that they wished him to continue
for another four years to represent
them.
And thi, was the man at whom the
assassin struck That there might be
nothing lacking to complete the Judas
Ike nfamy Of his act. he took ad-
vantage of an occasion when the Pres
ident was meeting the people generally:
and advancing as IL to take the hand
out-stretched to him in kindly and
brotherly fellowship. he turned the no.
BILE and generous confidence of the vic
tim into an opportunity to strike the
fatal blow. There is no baser deed I'm
all the annals of crime
The shock, the grief Of the country.
are bitter In the minds of all who
saw the dark days. while the President
yet lowered between life and death.
At last the light was stilled in the
kindly. eyes and the breath went from
the lips that even in mortal agony
uttered no words save of forgiveness
70 his murderer, of love for his friends.
and Of unfaltering trust in the will Of
the Most High. Such death, crown
ing the glory Of such life leaves
Sith infinite sorrow. but with such
what ne had accomplished and
tH oNn personal character that
80 fll ihc blow not as struck at him,