Cameron County press. [volume] (Emporium, Cameron County, Pa.) 1866-1922, 1901-12-12
THE MESSAGE.
President ROosevelt's First
Communication to
I Congress.
10 the Senate and House of Representa-

NO the senate ana House OF representa-
The congress assemblies this year under
the shadow of great calamity. On the
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 10
the third wGo has been murdered, and the
bare recital of this fact is sufficient to JUS
tity grave alarm among all loyal American
citizens. Moreover, the circumstances of
this the third assassination of an American
president, have a peculiarly sinister signiii-
cance. Both President Lincoln and Presi.
dent Garfield were killed by assassins OF
types unfortunately not uncommon In MS
tory President Lincoln falling victim to
the terrible passions aroused by four years
or 'ivil war, and President GARFIELD to the
Cevengeful vanity of a disappointed Office
seeker. President Mckinley was killed by
en- 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 II is
guaranteed by even the most just and lib
eral laws, and who are as hostile to the up
right exponent CT free peoples sober will
az to the tyrannical and irresponsible des-
pot.
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 pubic
man of his position who has been so wholly
free from the bitter animosites incident to
public life. His political opponents were
The first to bear the heartieSt and most gen
erous tribute to the broad kindlness of ma
ture the sweetness and gentleness of char
actcr which so endeared him TO his close
associates. To a standa ID of lofty integrity
In public life he united the tender affections
and home virtues which are all.impOrtant in
the makeup of national character. gal
liant soldier in the great war for the Union,
he also shOne as an example to all our peo-
pie because of his conduct in the most sa-
cred and intimate of home relations. There
could be no personal hatred of him. for he
never acted with aught but consideration for
the welfare of Others. No one could fail to
t.I
vate life. The defenders Of those murderous
criminals who seek to excuse their crimin-
allty by asserting that 1t is exercised for
political ends inveigh against wealth and
Irresponsible power. But for this assassina-
tion even this base apology cannot be urged
bitter in the minds of all who saw the dark
days, while the president yet hovered be-
tween 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
TO his murderer, of love for his friends, and
of unfaltering trust in the will OF the Most
High. Such death, crowning the glory of
such a life, leaves us with Infinite sorrow,
but with such pride In what he had accom-
pliShed and in his own personal character,
Ihat we feel the blow not as struck at him,
but as struck at the nation We mourn a
good and great president who is dead; but
while we mourn We are lifted up by the
splendid achievements of his life and the
grand herOism with which he met his death.
When we turn from the man to the ma
our gravest apprehensions and to demand
our wisest and most resolute action. This
criminal was a professed anarchist, inham-
ed by the teachings of professed anarchists,
and probably also by the reckless utterances
OF those who on the stump and in the pub
lic press, appeal to the dark and evil Spir-
its of malice and greed, envy and sullen
hatred. The wind Is sOwed by the men who
preach such doctrines, and they cannot es-
cape their share of responsibility for the
whirlwind that is reaped. This applies alike
80 the deliberate demagogue. TO the exploit
er Of sensationaism, and to the crude and
foolish visionary who for whatever reason,
apologies for crime or excites amess dis
content.
The blow was aimed not at this president
but at all presidents at every symbol Of
government. President Mckinley was as
emphatically the embodiment of the popular
forms of law Il New England town meet
ing Is In similar fashion the embodiment Of
the lawabiding purpose and practice of the
people of the town. on no conceivable the
ory could the murder of the president be
accepted as due to protest against Unequal
titles i'm the social order" save as the mur-
der of all the freemen engaged in a town
meeting could be accepted as a protest
against that social inequality which puts a
malefaCtOr in jail. Anarchy Is no more an
expression of social discomfort" than pick
ing pockets or fe-beating
The anarchist. and especially the anarch-
list in the United States, is merely one type
OF criminal more dangerous than any other
because he represents the same depravity in
a greater degree. The man who advocates
or fashion, or the man who apologies for
anarchists and their deeds, makes himself
morally accessory to murder before the fact.
The anarchist is n criminal whose perverted
instincts lead him to prefer confusion ard
chaos to the most benetcent form of social
order. His protest of concern for working
men Is outrageous in its impudent falsity
fol if the political institutions of this coun-
try do not afford opportunity to every hon
est and intelligent son of toll, then the door
of hope Is forever crossed against him. The
anarchist Is everywhere not merely the en-
emy Of system and of progress, but the dead
~ foe of liberty If ever anarchy Is trium-
phant its triumph will last for but one red
moment, to be succeeded for ages by the
gloomy night of despOtism.
For the anarchist himself, whether he
breaches or practices his doctrines, we need
not have one particle more concern than for
tim Of social or political injustice There
are no wrongs to remedy in his case. The
cause of his crimlnality is to be found in
his own evil passions and in the evil con
duct Of those who urge him on, not in any
failure by others or by the state to do jus
tlce to him or his: He is malefactor and
or way, product of social conditions" "
save as highwayman is produced" by the
a purse. 1t Is a travesty upon the great and
holy names of liberty and freedom to permit
them to be, invoked in such a cause No
man or body Of men preaching anarchistiC
doctrines should be allowed at large any
more than if preaching the murder Of some
speeches writings and meetings are essen
TALLY sedtiOus and reasonable
| earnestly recommend to congress that
1t should take into consideration the com
ing to this country of anarchists or persons
processing principles hostile to all govern
ment and justifying the murder of those
placed In authority. Such individuals as
those who not long ago gathered in open
meeting to glorify the murder of King Hum
bert of Italy perpetrate crime, and the law
should ensure their rigorous punishment
They and those like them should be kept
out Of this country and if found here they
should be promptly deported to the country
whence they came: and far-reaching provi
sion should be made for the punishment oi
those who stay. No matter calls more ur
gently for the wisest thought of congress
The federal courts should he given iuris
diction over any man who kills or attempt.
TO kill tbs president or any man who by The
constitution or by law Is in line of success
SION l@r pr oie PtrniuentsEii WHle the punish
propOrtiOned to the enOrmity of the offeus,
against our institutions.
Anarchy is n crime against the whole hu
man race; a; and all mankind should banC