Durango semi-weekly herald., 1901-12-05
PRESIDENTS
MESSAGE

WASHINGTON, Dec. 3.-It was a
nasty. drizzly morning. but the in
clement weather did not prevent the
crowds from fiocking to the capitol
to hear read the first state paper OF
President Roosevelt.
The senator's and representatives
gathered early, both chambers being
fully occupied before IL o'clock.
The days proceedings opened pre-
cisely at noon. Immediately after
the reading of the senate journal,
Major Pruden. assistant secretary to
the president, appeared and present
ed the chairman of the senate with
the message, which was Immediately
read by Henry NJ. Rose, chief clerk.
! The senator's listened to every word
with the closest attention. Printed
copies of the document were placed
upon all the desks just prior to the
reading and nearly all of the sena-
tors followed the reading of the mes
sage from their copies.
A somewhat similar scene was en-
acted in the house. Major Pruden
handed copy of the message to the
speaker, who broke the seal, raped
with his gavel and said: "a mes
sage from the president of the United
States" The document was imme-
diately read.
Seldom has a presidents message
been received with more interest or
with greater favor. The keenest in
terest was manifested. Every mem
Der sat in his seat and listened in
manner very different from the usual
prefunctionary style. There was
occasional applause, the liveliest be-
ing when the clerk read: The
American people are slow to wrath,
but when their wrath is once kindled
it burns like consuming fire."
After the reading of the message
both houses adjourned out of respect
to the memory of President McKin-
.ley.
In part President Roosevelt says:
To the senate and house of represen-
tatiyes:
Congress assemblies this year
under the shadow of a great calam
ity. On the sixth day of September
President Mckinley was shot by an
anarchist while attending the Pan
American exposition at Buffalo and
died in that city on the fourteenth of
that month.
OF the last seven elected presi-
dents he is the third to have been
murdered and the bare recital of this
fact is sufficient to justify grave
alarm among all loyal American citi-
zens. Moreover, the circumstances
of this, the third assassination of an
American president, has has pecu-
liar and sinister appearance. Both
President Lincoln and President Gar
field were killed by assassins of types
unfortunate and not uncommon in
history. Presiden Lincoln fell a vic
tim to the terrible passions aroused
by four years of civil war and Presi-
dent Garfield to the revengeful van
ity of disappointed office seeker.
President Mckinley was killed by an
utterly depraved criminal belonging
to that body of criminals who object
to all governments. At the time of
President McKinley's death he was
the most widely loved man in the
United States. His political oppon-
ents were the first to bear the heart
lest and most generous tribute to
the broad kindliness of nature, sweet
ness and gentleness of character
which endeared him to his close as
sociates.
President Roosevelt then pays an
elaborate tribute to the worth of the
late Mr.. Mckinley. saying the blow
was aimed not at this president, but
at all presidents and at every symbol
of the government. The message de-
nounces anarchists in the United
States as a type of criminals more
dangerous than any other. And he
says: mo man or any body of men
preaching anarchistic doctrines
should be allowed at large any more
than if preaching the murder of some
specified individual l earnestly rec
ommend to the congress that it take
into consideration the coming to this
country of anarchists or persons pro-
Tossing principles hostile to all gov
ernment and justifying the murder of
those placed in authority. They
should be kept out of the country and
If found here should be reported to
the country from which they came.
No matter calls more urgently for the
wise thought of congress.
Referring to the prosperity OF the
country the message says that during
the last five years business confidence
has been restored and the nation is
to be congratulated upon it's present
abounding prosperity. Mischlevous
laws. however, can easily destroy
The growth of cities has gone on be-
yond comparison faster than the
growth of the country, and this build
ing of great industrial centers has
meant a startling increase in aggre'
gate wealth and especially in large
corporate fortune. This process has
aroused much antaginism. greater
part wholly without warrant. II Is
not true that the rich have grown
richer and the poor poorer. On the
contrary the average man has never
been so well off as at the presen