The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1901-09-10
JUSTICE, NOT VENGEANCE.


The president improves, Hour by hour
the waters of the dark river recede, the
mists rise, and Hope, smiling, beckons
to the waiting nation.
He will live! he will live. are the joy
Gus words that pass from man to man,
as the time wears slowly on. Why this
deep heart-interest in the life of one
man? Is it personal affection for William
Mckinley that so stirs the blood of the
nation? Is it love for the personality of
the president that calls for vengeance
upon the head of the wculd-be assassin,
while prayers assail the throne of ON
impotence for the life of his victim? No,
1t is not love for the man; it is far
deeper than that: 1t is the love for the
nation at whose heart the blow was
aimed Patriotism is the strongest of all
passions. He who insults the flag that
represents the nationality is an enemy
to all who walk beneath its folds. He
who assails the president of the United
States, the living embodiment of our ma
tionality, strikes at our heart of hearts.
with tears of rage we reprobate the
deed. He has attempted to strike down
that which we prize greater than life
and all that it contains. A man will
defend his home and his, as a she-tiger
defends her lair; yet he will leave sweet
heart, wife and children to lay down
his life for love of the country that he
calls his own. William Mckinley. the
private citizen, might call in vain for
men to sacrifice their lives to save his
own; but let William Mckinley, the
president call for such sacrifice and
millions are ready. Our love for the
president rs as the love for the Stars
and Stripes, and today as in 1861 the
almost universal sentiment is. whoever
insults or assaults either, shoot him
on the spot" This in 10 way belittles
the character of the stricken president.
The feeling of wrath and pity are In
tensified by the knowledge of his lovable
qualities The enormity of the crime
stands out in letters OF fire because We
know the lovable nature of the man.
Such incidents bring out the inherent
generosity of the people as we'll as their
Astounding patriotism. The national heart
softens beneath these fearful blows. We
are enabled to discover of what sterling
stuff the American is composed. We re-
spect each other more for what we see
under the stress of great emotions
Then in life's goblet freely press
. Inc leaves that give it bitterness;
I Nor prize the cOlored water less
For IN thy darkness and distress
New llght and strength they give"
Since the shot was fired last Friday.
there has gone up an incessant cry for
vengeance. 1t is naturaI-perhaps it is
commendable; We would be less men-less
patriots, had not the cry for vengeance
burst unbidden from our lips. 1t is the
animal cry of the soul-the cry of the
patriot But Vengeance is mine, saith
the Lord" The revenge of a great peo-
pie may become almost cowardice. JUS
tice must not leave her throne Stricken
with horror at the enormity of the stroke
aimed at the nations heart, she may
drop her scales but she must not remove
the bandage from her eyes, lest she see,
and yield her sword to Vengeance.
There is in the chambers of each human
heart,
Though crowded with passions, all ready
to start
And leave the dark thoughts of revenge
that are there,
TO spread its broad wings on the am
bilnt air,
The white dove of Pity. When Impotence
calls,
From the face of the strong there in
Stantly falls
The dark mask of Revenge Were JUS
tice not blind,
Her sword would be sheathed ere It
falls on mankind.
If the president live, and that he will,
we firmly believe, let the nation defend
its own-its flag it's presidents, and its
life. Let all acts which may be read as
against either, be treason, and SO pun
ished. Let Pity go weep, that Justice
may prevail