The San Juan islander. [volume] (Friday Harbor, Wash.) 1898-1914, 1901-12-05

- 's~s On various Topics OF Interest 70 III
Nation Anarchists Denounced !. C,imi,
nall. and They Should Be Treated !, Such
the World Over-A Tribute to Mckinley
'fusfs Declared to Be Evils and Should
bs Placed Under Government Control
Forestry and irrigation Legislation Need
States Unable to Deal Satisfactorily
with the Latter Subject Larger Navy
NsedsdEArmy Large Enough at Present
ICuha and the Philippines.
washington, Dec. 3.-Following is the
message OF President Roosevelt. read in
Congress today
HKx-ALOsGcl ENa-y
10 the senate and House Of Representa-
The Congress assemblies this year under
the shadow of great calamity. On the
otn OF September, President Mckinley was
shot by an anarchist while attending the
Pan American Exposition at Buffalo. and
died in that city on the l4th of that
month.
VI lhe last seven elected Presidents he
is the third who had been murdered and
the bare recital of this fact is SUFFICIENT
TO justify grave alarm among all Ioyal
American citizens. Moreover, the circum-
stances OF this. the third assassination of
an American President, have a peculiarly
sinister significance. Both President
Lincoln and President Garfield were killed
by assassins of types unfortunately not
uncommon In history. President Lincoln
falling victim to the terrible -passions
aroused by four years of civil war. and
President Garfield to the revengeful van
ity of disappointed Office seeker. Presi-
dent Mckinley was killed by an utterly
depraved criminal belonging to that body
OF criminals who object to all govern
ments, good and bad alike, who are against
any form of popular liberty il 1t ie guar
anteed by even the most Just and liberal
laws, and who are as hostile to the up
right exponent of free peoples sober
will as to the tyrannical and irresponsible
despot.
MCKINLEY, THE MAN.
1t is not too much to 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 bitter ami
mosities incident to public life. His po-
litical opponents were the first to bear the
heartiest and most generous tribute to
the broad kindliness of nature, the sweet
ness and gentleness of character which
so endeared him to his close associates.
To a standard of lofty integrity in public
life he united the tender affections and
home virtues which are all-important in
the makeup of national character. A gal
liant soldier in the great war for the Un-
ion, he also shone as an example to all
our people because of his conduct In the
most sacred and intimate of home rela-
tons. There could be no personal hatred
of him, for he never acted with aught
but consideration for the welfare of 9TH
ers. No one could fail to respect him
who knew him in public or private life.
The defenders of those murderOus GRIM
inals who seek to excuse their GRIMM
ality. by asserting that it is exercised for
political ends inveigh against wealth and
irresponsible power. But for this assas-
sination even this base. apology cannot
be urged.
President Mckinley was man of mod
crate means, man whose stock sprang
from the sturdy tiliers Of the soil, who
had himself belonged among the wage
workers, who had entered the army as
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 unre-
mitting 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 in
dividual. The blow was not aimed at
tyranny or wealth. 1t was aimed at one
of the strongest champions the wage
worker had ever had; at one OF the most
faithful representatives Of the system OF
public rights and representative govern
ment who has ever risen to public ONCE.
President Mckinley filled that polittcal
office for which the entire people vote,
and no President-not even Lincoln him.
self-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 endeayor to give expression 70
their thoughts after having endeavored
| to guide that thought Alright He had
| lust been reelected to the Presidency De-
cause the majority of our citizens. tne
majority of our farmers and wage-Work-
ars hejieved that he had faithfully up
| held their interests for four years. They
| felt themselves in close and intimate
touch with him. They felt that ne rep,
resented so we'll and so honoraplv All
their ideals and aspirations that tney
wished him to continue for another four
years to represent them.
| A BASE DEED.
Ana his was the man at whom the as
sassin struck! That there might pe notn-
! ing lacking to complete the judas IKE 2
infamv of his act, he took advantage OF
an occasion when the President was
| meeting the people generally; ana az
| yancing as IL to take the hand ontsere.cn-
ed to him in kindly and brotneriy le.,ow ',s