Arizona daily citizen., 1901-10-09
THE AMERICAN SENATOR.

1t is the peculiar fortune Of the
Hon George Frisbie Hoar, to have
lived long enough to command the
title of the American Senator, with
the general assent of the people of
all the States and Territories.
Truly, the venerable statesman
who holds his mission from
the state of Massachusetts is II
grand old man, IIe has outgrown
the narrow partisanship that in his
earlier years in Congress dwarfed
his influence and belittled his in
tellect. He il today the foremost
defender of the principles of Am
erican liberty, as he is the best liv-
ing illustration of the high pur-
pose, the sterling integrity, the
profound learning and the exalted
patriotism that characterized the
fathers of the republic. Arizona
Yields not To Massachusetts in gen
crous appreciation of the services
of Senator Hoar, and this too,
when majority of Arizonians,
and the best thought of Arizona,
are identified with the political
party Of which Mr.. H9ar has been
life long antagonist
Tho speech delivered by Senator
Hoar at the Massachusetts, Repub-
lican convention deserves to be
called an American classic. This
speech was printed in the news
columns of The Citizen yesterday
but deserves repetition.
The words of the great Ameri-
can Senator should be committed
to memory by every American
school boy.
1--WE can undoubtedly provide
some additional legal safeguards
against the recurrence of this ter.
rible crime" said he, referring to
the death of Mckinley, "but we
cannot give up free speech or con
stitutional liberty because of the
danger of a recurrence of such
crimes. The restraining of free
speech and of the free press, dis
agreeable as arc their excesses,
must come in tho main from the
individuals sense of duty and not
by law. You and | are Republi-
cans. You and | are men of the
North. Most of US are Protestants
in religion. We are men of native
birth. Yet if every Republican
were today to fall in his place, as
William Mckinley has fallen, !
believe our countrymen of the 9th
er party, in spite of what we deem
their errors, would take the repub-
lie and bear on the flag of liberty
and glory | believe if every Pro-
testant were to DO stricken down
by lightning stroke that our bre-
thern of the Catholic faith would
carry on the republic in the spirit
of true and liberal freedom. !
believe, if every man OF native
birth within our borders were to
die this day the men of foreign
birth who have come here to seek
homes and liberty under the shad-
ow of the republic would carry on
the republic in Gods appointed
way. / believe if every man in
the North were to die, the new and
chastened South, with the virtues
it has cherished from tho beginning
of love of home, and love of State,
and love of freedom, with its conr-
age and its constancy, would take
the country and bear it OH to the
achievements OF it's lofty destiny.
The anarchist must slay 75,OOO,OOO
Americans before he can slay the
republic"
At time when 80 many wild
suggestions tending toward despot-
ism have been made by men who
ought to know better, the words of
Senator Hoar ring out clear and
strong. He would not permit the
mutilation OF our institutions be-
cause a few miscreants are addicted
to outrage and murder. If it were
possible despite the provision of
the Federal Constitution, that Con-
gress shall make no law abridging
freedom of speech) to enact legis
lation incorporating the sugges-
gestions of some of those who mold
public opinion in this country,
there Is no telling how far the pen
dulum would swing back toward ab-
solntism. Some who pose as lead /
srs Of public opinion have given
expression to reactionary views