The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1901-09-11
THE ROOT OF THE MATTER.

THE ROOT OF THE MATTER.
The attempted assassination OF
President Mckinley has been fol-
lowed by the demand from many
sources that in the future our
Presidents be surrounded with
more and stronger personal guards.
We believe that every precaution
that was reasonable and proper
was taken in the case of Mr.. Nc
Kinley. Detectives in citizens
clothes were near, and every one
who approached the President was
scanned with keen and watchful
eyes, that no insane man or crank
might do him injury. The fact that
he was shot down at the hands Of
an anarchist does not disprove the
statement, unless the fact of our
liberation and protection of this
evil made it incumbent upon the
American people to more closely
guard our chosen head against the
possible ravages Of the evil.
But that a larger number of per-
sona1 guards for our Presidents
does not go to the root of this mat
ter is as certain as it is essential
that we must at once go to the root
of it if our chief official is to be
our other officials in high
positions are to be kept from the
danger of such attacks, and our
laws are to be preserved. The das-
tardly blow at our President was a
blow struck at the very founda-
tions of our government--a blow in
behalf Of moral chaos. That blow
there, but who does not fear in his
Utmost heart that this attack upon
our Chief Executive may prove a
suggestion to some other anarchist,
or to some crank or 1unatic, to
shoot down other high officials? In
our sublime self-confidence, in our
easy liberation Of evil beliefs pub
Hcly exploited, In our contempt for
danger, we have permitted the SOW
a vile product. Who thought when
Emma Goldman was sowing the
seeds Of anarchy in her public ut
terances that this would be it's bit
ter fruit? And, in the name of
God, is this the end of it? And, if
not, what will the harvest yet be-?
Because Mr.. Mckinley has been
struck down, the life Of Vice-Presi-
dent Roosevelt, Of our Cabinet Of
flcers, and Of every Governor in this
country has been endangered.
The American people will be very
slow to tolerate the idea Of having
an armed body guard about their
President-the President of every
man, woman and child i'm this
country that loves our institutions
and respects that Constitution un-
der which he was reared and
which he is sworn to uphold. We
are a democratic people in our
tastes and in our respect for every
man tor what he is and what he
may be. We like not the trumpery
which would too closely hedge
about those whom we delight to
honor. When a man becomes
President of these United States
he at once becomes the representa-
tive of all the people, regardless of
party, and for all time we wish to
continue the democratic custom of
taking him by the hand and show
ing him in this way that we honor
and respect him. whenever it may
prove convenient to him to hold a
public reception, and let us take
him by the hand and wish him God
speed.
MI. Mckinley understood and
~ AAA pothAACh Will tAxS IccxxnSs
When warned by his Efficient sec
rotary that there might be danger
in these gatherings, he replied that
all banquets might be omitted if it
were deemed desirable, but that he
would continue to have and to at
tend public receptions. He recog-
nized that the people wished to
honor him and themselves by the
honest handshake, he saw that pa
triotism was aroused and quickened
by this mingling Of the President
with all the people; he saw that
they would better understand and
appreciate their power and privi-
1eges under our form Of govern
ment if they could by personal con-
tact clearly perceive that the Presi.
dent is but citizen Of the Re-