The Washington times., 1901-09-07
EXPRESSIONS OF SORROW.
Grief in Washington Over the At
tempt on the Presidents Life.

dents life can scarcely be measured. AL
| though many of the Administration lead
ers and high departmental officials were
out of the city. those who remained am
ply voiced the sentiriepts of their col
leagues. None of the members of the
Cabinet is in the city and most of the
foreign diplomats are away on their va
| cations.
The expressions of sympathy from
prominent officials and citizens of Wash
| ington We're numerous and heartfelt
They came from men irrespective of sec
ton party affiliation. all paying trib-
| ute to the high character of the wounded
| Executive and expressing detestation for
his would-be assassin.
General Gillespie: This is terrible. 1t
| has come suddenly that it can scarce
| ly be realized. President Mckinley is a
| lovable man, and the whole nation prays
for his recovery
| Acting Secretary Hackett: THE per-
| sonal characteristics of the President was
| the first thought to occur to everyone
when the sad news was learned. The
| President was loved by everybody. 1t
was impossible for one to meet him with
out going away as his friend. That this
thing should have been done seems in
credible. His loss at this time would
/
| worst"
Charles G. Dawes, Comptroller OF the
Currency. took train for Buffalo as
soon as he heard of the attempt on the
| Presidents life He left on the 1:l5 train
OYER the Pennsylvania road, in company
with John Barber.
Ellis ii. Roberts, United States Treas
urer: Il almost feel it thar the Presi-
dent will live The latest advices also
| seem to uphold my belief in that direc-
ton Under the circumstances l do not
deem 1t necessary or advisable to state
my views as to the probable change of
Administration should Mr.. Mckinley die.
If the deed has been committed by An
archists. 1 do not think that it would be
just to take exemplary measures against
all for the deed of a single member of
their creed. The crime stands unprece-
| dented. and l cannot conceive of what
may have caused the man to attempt
such an outrage. 1 heartily sympathize
with Mrs. Mckinley, and / hope that Mr..
Mckinley will quickly recover
Admiral Dewey: Il am overwhelmed
| with grief"
Judge Walter s. Cox: II am deep
Iy shocked and grieved at the news
l did not think President Mckinley had
an enemy in the country. l cannot con-
ceive how sane man could do such a
deed
Admiral George W., Melville: There can
be but one sentiment in regard to the
matter-a sentiment of horror among the
people of so great and1good and powerful
a nation the United States of America
that so dastardly an act should be COM
mitted on the Chief Magistrate, gen.
tleman of highest possible standing. SO
great and so good a man, and President
whom ! believe has not had his equal in
the history of the Republic. even COM
pairing him with Washington and Lin
coln.'' = =
Gen John NJ Wilson, Corps of En-
gineers: Il am simply Mortified 1t is i'm
possible to conceive that such an act
could be perpetrated upon President Nc
kinley. the highest type of gentleman
and Christian soldier. tits simply horri-
\ flying.
Henry Clay Evans, Commissioner OF
Pensions: 1T is a most terrible Dational
calamity. l cannot understand how man
can find any excuse in attacking the
! President in such an atrocious manner.
He Is a man of such a. clean character
and such a good heart That it seems to
| me inconceivablev how the attempt could
be made. / did not think that President
Mckinley had one personal enemy. He
has loved to mix with the people, and
do not imagine that he ever did anyone
an injury in his life. Never man lived
Mckinley. / have the deepest SYM
pathy for Mrs. Mckinley, and | certainly
do hope that he will recover. Stringent
measures should be adopted against all
Anarchists and such people as come here
and cause trouble in general and such a
calamity as this one in particular. Should
Vice President Roosevelt, in the course Of
events. be called upon to perform the du-
ties of the Chief Magistrate, think that
he will follow in the same conservative
lines as President Mckinley has observed
Gtp D. 90 Hold IN ha
I Assistant Postmaster General Bristow
| THE news of the attempt to take the
| Presidents life was at once startling and
shocking. | cannot see how anyone could
want to injure him, much less to take
his life. he is of such generous dispo-
sition and so kind-hearted. 1t seems in
up to him to shake his hand and then de-
liberately shoot him. L cannot form a
conception of the nature of the mind Of
a man that would do such deed.
THE attack on the life of the Presi-
dent makes US think seriously of a way
to prevent such crimes being committed.
The country is in a condition of profound
peace-there is no political agita ton to
excite erratic or unstable minds to such
deeds Of violence If ii is possible to dis
cover the members OF societies which are
said to exist for the purpose of killing
rulers. they should be made amenable to
the law In some way and committed eth
er to institutions for insane persons or
jaiis for criminals. to ensure the safety
of others. In a country like ours where
the ruler is the popular choice of the
people: 1t would be a shame that upon
his going out among the people he would
have. to be surrounded by a bodyguard -
Judge Ryan, Acting Secretary of the
Interior: 1T is appalling. l am aghast
at the news. What is there to say? 1t
is catastrophe in the consideration Of
which men grow silent. 1t is terrible to
think that such deed is possible -
Thomas III. Anderson, Associate Justice
of the Supreme Court of the District OF
/
that the President has been the victim
Of so appalling n tragedy. His death
would not only be inexpressibly sad but
an irreparable loss to the country. of
all our Presidents he is the most be-
loved His countiymen. without regard
to party Affiliations, believe in him as a
tive. His hold upon the hearts and
homes of oHr people Is without parallel
in our history.
The American people have been too
protection of the Chief Magistrates life is
concerned | would advocate system OF
protection of the President which would
ensure him against all similar attacks in
the future. 1t is deplorable that we. the
American people, SHOULD, be compelled to
take such measures in country where
everybody stands on the same level If
| the deed has been doneIby an Anarchist
| would also advocate stringent measures
to keep them out of this country il the
future by law passet by Congress.
Every safeguard imaginable should
dent of the United States
In every relation of his eventfui and
useful life he has9mors than met 3 ex3
as a model oitizef ana as representing
the highest type Of Arasrican statesman
ship. q
making for his life hes,and his devoted
wife Will have thezunited prayers of the
American people fdg hissspeedy and COM