The Laurens advertiser. (Laurens, S.C.) 1885-1973, 1901-09-18
BRY ANS TRIBUTE
TO MCKINLEY.
Are Our Public Servants to Live
In Constant Fear OF Assassina-


Are Our Public Servants to Liy
IN Constant Fear OF Assassina
tion?
The following editorial IN The Com
moner of last week gives Mr.. VIM. J
Bryan's estimate of the sorrow ant
humiliation of the American people il
the present emergency
The nation bows in sorrow and il
humiliation-in sorrow because its chic
executive, its official head, is passing
| through the valley of the shadow OF
dcalh-in humiliation because the Pres.
ident of our republic has fallen victim
to the cruel and cowardly methods en-
ployed IN monalchies where helpless
and hopeless subjects sometimes meet
arbitrary power with violence.
n morals and i'll the contemplation
OF law all lives are of equal value-all
are priceless-but when seventy-five
millions of people select one of their
number and invest him with the au-
thority which attaches to the presl-
dency he becomes their representative
and blow aimed at him i. resented as
an attack upon all.
Beneath the partisanship of the in
dividual lies the patriotism of the citI.
zen, sometimes dormant, it ls true, but
always active Ill hours Of peril or mis- {.
fortune. While the Presidents life
hangs III the balance there are no party
lines. The grief of personal friends
and close political associates may be
more poignant, but their sympathy is
not more sincere thau that extended
by political opponents. Although none
hut his family and his physicians are
admitted 10 his room, all his countrymen
are at his bedside IN thought and senti-
mcnt and their prayers ascend for his
recovery. 1t was characteristic of his
thoughtfulncss that, even amid the ex-
citcment following the assault, he eau
toned his companions not to exagger-
ate his condition to his invalid wife.
And the humiliation ! Are our pub
lie scrvants-lhose who are chosen by
the people and who exercise for linn
tied time the authority bestowed by
the peope-are these to live in con-
slant fear of assassination ? ls there
TO be no difference between our con-
stltutional government and those des
pctlc governments which rest, not upon
the consent of the governed, but upon
brute force
There is no place for anarchy in the
United States ; there is no room here
for those who commit, counsel or con-
done murder, no matter what political
excuse may be urge,l in its defense.
The line between peaceful agitation
and violence is clear and distinct. We
have freedom Of speech and freedom
nf the press in this country, and they
are essential to the maintenance of our
liberties. If any one desires to criti-
cize the methods of government or the
conduct of an official, he has a perfect
right to do so, but his appeal must be
TO the intelligence and patriotism of
his fellow citizens, not to force. Let
no one imagine that he can improve
social or political conditions by the
shedding Of blood.
Free governments may be over
thrown, but they cannot be reformed,
by those who violate the command.
ment, "Thou shalt not kill"
Under government like ours every
wrong can be remedied by law and the
laws are in the hands Of the people
themselves. Anarchy can neither be
excused nor tolerated here. The man
who proposes to right public wrong
by taking the life of human being
makes himself an outlaw and cannon
consistently appeal to the protection OF
the government which he repudiatcs
He invites return to state of bar.
barism IN which each one must, at his
own risk, defend his own rights and
avenge his own wrongs.
The punishment administered to the
would-be assassin and to his cocoon
spirators, if he has any, should be such
as to warn all inclined to anarchy tina
while this is an asylum for those wht
love liberty, 1t is an inhospitable place
for those who Iaise their hands again 9
all forms of government.