Custer weekly chronicle. [volume] (Custer City, S.D.) 1890-1931, 1901-12-14
Crime Without a Parallel.

sassin struck! That there might be moth
Ing lacking to complete the Judas-like In
fanny OF his act, he took advantage OF an
occasion when the president was meeting
the people generally; and advancing as Il
20 take the and outstretched TO him In
kindly and hrotherly fellowship, he turned
the noble and generous confidence of the
victim into an opportunity to strike the
fatal blow. There Is no DaBer deed In all
tho annals OF crime.
The shock, the griof or the country, are
bitter I'm tho minds OF all who saw the
dark days while the president yet lowered
between life and death. At last tho light
was stillcd 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 unfaltcrlng trust In
the will OF the most high. such n death,
browning the glory OF such u life, leaves
pride In what he had accomplished and in
his own personal character, that we feel
the blow not ~ struck at him, but as
struck mt the nation. We mourn n 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
tion, the harm done is so great az TO cX-
cite our gravest apprehensions and 10 de-
mand our wlsest and most r%csOlute ac-
tion. This criminal was Il professed am
archlst, inflamed by the teachings OF pro-
fcssed anarchists, II probably also by
tho reckless u~ttcrances of those who, on
the stump and In the public press, appeal
70 the dark and evil spirits Of malice and
greed, envy and sulien hatred.
The blow was aimed not at this presi-
dent. but al all presidents; at every SYM
boil OF government. President Mckinley
was as emphatlcally the embodiment OF
popular will as II New England town
meeting is the embodiment OF the purpose
and practice OF the town. On no con-
- n 90. thA. - sAglA 80 49,
president be accepted as Que 10 protest
against Inequalities in the social order"
Anarchy is no more an expression OF So
cial discomfort" than picking pockets or
wife-beattng.
The anarchist is merely one type OF
criminal, more dangerous because he rep
resents d~epravity In n greater degree.
Tho man who advocates anarchy or
apologies for anarchists and their deeds
makes himself morally accessory TO muir
der. The anarchists perverted Instincts
lead him to prefer chaos to social order.
His protest of concern for working men
IS outrageous I'm its falsity: for IL the po-
Htical institutions of his country do not
afford opportunity TO every honest and
Intelligent son of toll, then the door OF
hone is forever closed against him. II
ever anarchy is triumphant, It's triumph
will last for but one red moment, to be
succeeded for ages Ivy the gloomy night
Of despotism.
Some Remedies Suggested.
For the anarchist himself we need not
have more concern than for any murderer.
IL not the victim OF social or political
The cause of his c~riminality is
hts evil passions and the evil conduct OF
those who urge him on, not in any fall
ure 70 do Justice TO him or his. lie Is a
and nothing else. lie Is no
product Of social conditions" save as a
is produced by tho fact
that an unarmed man happens TO have n
purse. No man preaching anarchlstic
doctrines should be allowed at large any
more han If preaching the murder OF
some specified private individual. An
archistic speeches, writings and meetings
are sedltlous and reasonable.
/ earnestly recommend that congress
consider the coming TO this country oe
Such individuals as those
who gathered to glority the murder of
King tlunbcrt perpetrate n crime the law
punish. They should be kept out
of this country; IL found here they should
be promptly deportcd and provision
be made for the punishment OF
those who stay.
The federal courts should be given juris-
over any man who Kills or at
to kill the president or any man
In line OF succession for the presidency,
the punishment FOR an unsuccessful
should be proportioned to the
enormity of the offcnsc against our in
ytltutions.
A.narchy Is a crime against the whole
human race. The crime should De made
an offense against the law OF nations, like
piracy and the slave trade; for 4 Is black
or than either. 1t should be go declared
such treatlees would Giye the federal