Evening star., 1901-09-07
The People Hopeful, However, Of the
Presidents Recovery.
EXPRESSION CONCERNING TEE CRIME
Views of Department Officials and
Residents of Washington.
COURTS MARK OF RESPECT

dent hope was held out for his recovery.
AS early as daylight people were astir In
quest of news Of the afflicted chief magis-
trate, and when 1t was learned that the
conditions were encouraging an expression
of heartfelt satisfaction went UP.
"Wfll he recover?' ana "How is the Pres
ident? 2" were queries that came from every
quarter during the morning, and the down.
town streets were crowded with people who
were anxious to secure the latest news from
Buffalo from time to time concerning Mr..
McKinley's condition:
A full realization Of the enormity Of the
crime against the President and the nation
presented itself upon cooler and more de-
liberate consideration of the offense when
the fuller details of the affair were learned.
Everywhere were heard expressions Of ex-
ceeding sadness. All were anxious that the
President might show immediate improve
ment, and all the news from Buffalo tend
ing to indicate that fact was absorbed with
alacrity.
In every circle OF life there was but one
expression: How could any man have
been moved to attempt such crime?
What could have been the motive? The
would-be assassin must be an insane man."
The gloom that was cast over the city
was felt at every hand, Among the de-
partmental aid District. government Off
cials the day was a sorry one. while among
persons Of every walk of life there was but
one subject of consideration, and that the
prospect OF President McKinley's recovery.
A National Calamity.
Admiral Schley was engaged at the
Shoreham with Mr.. Jere M. Wilson and
Capt. Charles E. Clark, former command
er of the Oregon. when his former flag
secretary, Lieut.. g. w. Wells, jr., Informed
him of the shooting of the President. The
| admiral was momentarily overwhelmed
md of Grcf on,16 mt holt he IL
Ing news. When he came convinced of
| its truth he expressed keen grief at the
attempt. He Immediately abandoned the
work in hand and went to his apartments
at the Arlington and kept himself informed
of the Presidents condition until a late
hour: He went over to the Shoreham
early this morning and was seen there by
G reporter for The Star shortly before
noon.
/ Il regard the attempted assassination OF
the President as a national calamity" said
the admiral. with much feeling. '1t Is a
singular thing that the three Presidents Of
our country whose lives have been at
tempted by assassins are those who have
loved most to mingle with the people. The
fact that in this country a President is not
| safe among the people who love him is
shame and a reproach If he surrounded
himself with bayonets from motives Of self
protection he would be accused of aping the
Imperialism OF Europe, yet there seems to
| be no other way for our chief executives
to insure living the term Of their natural
lives. The ideal state Of affairs would be
| that in which our President would be as
safe before all the people as is the ordinary
man IN his own home.
II deeply deplore the awful deed and fer
ventfy hope that President Mckinley, whose
ability as a statesman, whose dignity as a
| man and whose devotion as a husband fur
nish examples for all civilization may be
| spared to the nation he has SO illustriously
served
The members of Admiral schley's coun-
sci and number of naval officers who were
present voiced similar sentiments. Among
the naval men were Capt Clark. Capt.
Cook, who commanded the Brooklyn at
Santiago; Lieut.. Commander Mason. her
executive officer: Engineers Hannum and
Carter, Paymaster Hobbs, Lieuts. Rush
and Simpson, who were In charge of the
official staff of the Brooklyn at the time
of the fight.
Awful and Overwhelming.
"It is pretty hard to say anything about
It," said Judge Ryan, acting secretary of
the interior, to a Star reporter today in ref
erence to the shooting Of President McKin-
ley. 1.-THE fact is, when I first heard the
news 1 was simply paralyzed. 1t Is SO aw-
full and overwhelming that one seems in
capable of making any expression.
There Is some talk now in the newspa-
perS about having an acting president per-
form the functions Of the President while
he Is i'll. During the eighty days when
Garfield was sick from his wound all the
executive functions of the government were
performed by the several executive depart
ments, and everything went along just as
smoothly as If there was not a ripple on
the surface: All the necessary functions Of
the government can now be performed by
the several executive departments in his alb
sence without material prejudice to the
public interests II the Presidents illness Is
continued ninety days. There may be some
matters in that period Of time that 1t would
be desirable to have acted upon by the
President, where his action Is indispensa-
BILE, but the delay would not occasion any
public Inconvenience. Besides, If the Presi-
dent recovers, as everybody. prays he will,
he Is likely to be In condition in four
weeks from this time to enable him to put
his signature to any papers wherever it
may be neceSsarv.
1.-THE President is a man whose clean life
and perfect habits have left him with all
his vital powers In their greatest yigor
He has the courage OF a lion, and the
mighty interests that are involved and the
unprecedented manifestation of popular af-
lection for him viii steel his powers for
the struggle, and have an abiding convic-
tion that he will conquer"
senator Blackburn Hopeful.
Senator Blackburn of Kentucky was
deeply shocked at the news
"I have enjoyed close and intimate. ac-
quaintance with President Mckinley for
| many years." he said to q Star reporter
va
were members OF the committee on ways
and means together, and his family and
mine occupied adjoining suites at the Eb-
bitt for several seasons. There was never
cleaner. decerter man than Mr. McKin-
ley. No two men were ever more widely
opposed politically, but our personal reia-
tfons were close and congenial. I share
with every other decent citizen deep SYM
pathy tor him and his wife, and horror for
the work OF the devil who shot him down
feel confident that the President viii re-
cover. He was operated upon Immediate
ly, and this will, believe, prove to be
greatly In hts favor. Where there Is delay
In the treatment Of wounds such as that
the President received fatal results almost
invariably ensue, but in his case there was
virtually none, and. a. said, feel GER
tain he will be spared"
Whole Country M0urns.
General Gillespie. Acting Secretary OF
War: There II but one language to use
In q case like this-sThe whole country
mourns.' II not only affects the family and
household OF the President, but the whole
nation. We have but one prayer-<hat he
will be spared to VI to carry out the wise
policy he has 50 successfully inaugurated."
" H0n nlroff Akivn 80