Herald and news. [volume] (West Randolph, Vt.) 1878-1943, 1901-09-12

tdcIlHCe 10 muir fciOuo sucSlgH
Another blot on our country's name
and fame, A wound TO every honest
heart A blow to every believer in
our form of government For by our
votes we placed Mckinley in the
presidents chair and made him the
visible target for the assassin's bullet.
The same bullet pierced every thread
OF our whole social fabric.
It's no ordinary crime-this shooting
of Mckinley 1t is the most dastardly
deed of the century. Lincoln's
assassination, defenceless as it was
came as the result of the terrible
struggle in which he was the chief
figure, TWAS at least comprehensive
Guiteau. slayer OF Garfield, was a
weak-minded man, who, disappointed
as an office-seeker, sought personal
revenge. He represented nobody but
his own weak self. But Mckinley, be
it noted, is the first president to fall
victim to those vile, dangerous and
destructive enemies of society itself
the Anarchists. 1t was the presidency,
not the president, that was struck
down. No trace of popular resent
ment or private malice prompted the
deed. As utterly and incomprehensibly
wicked as the murder of newborn
babe. is this attempt on the life of our
grand and idolized president. In all
sane minds, there is not the slightest
shadow OF palliation or excuse for II.
Anarchism alone could conceive and
execute it.
And Anarchism alone should pay the
penalty The despieable beings whose
destructive teachings are responsible
should be-must be-remoyed from all
opportunity to commit such deeds. II
anarchy is what they want, let them
have IT, Let them be east together
upon some lone island a thousand
miles from civilized man and do their
worst upon each other. Let them put
their pet theories into force there
until the last miserable being among ,
them has persisted, none too soon. /
They revile all forms Of government Z
let them live as they please. But not I
for a moment should their vile heresies /
be permitted in any land that values :
its priceless heritage Of organized Z
government. Their power Of destruc- d
ton should be taken away. Good /
men should not be called upon TO IN
stand as victims to their mercilessness.
The Anarchists of Europe hold every n
head under a spell Of dread b
md terror. Whatever justification b
hey may have there they have none G
here. Our government is OF the h
people. and because the people prefer h
{ TO anarchy is not the slightest g
for making futile attempts to Il
substitute anarchy by means of q
assassination. In can accomplish no 4
md except to stir our people TO a h
ealization of the personal danger to
which we are exposing our rulers o
without taking proper steps to protect A
hem
1t is true thatwhile in America there q
re comparatively few Anarchists and u
hese almost wholly of foreign d
there is at the same time a p
.reater latitude for these few to act. i
We allow almost complete freedom !
# speech and press. The most
doctrines, bordering on
reason itself, are permitted. We
AVE trusted to the general intelligence
nd patriotism of our people to :,
discourage anything of a dangerous II
lature, and until recently we have not "
rusted in vain. Known Anarchists Z
lave upheld their vile teachings by I
Itterance OF mouth or pen, with little n
lindrance. But with this latest
penalty in mind, coming after the
chicago police massacre and the plot u
latched in Paterson. y. J.. which 4
'esulted in the death Of King Humbert 3
If Italy we must conclude that we have !
been too lenient Even a degraded \
ew dark plotters constitute a danger il
hat must be dealt with, or more r
serious results will follow. The time G
has arrived when every person who is
known to be an Anarchist should be
before he has had an
TO commit wrong. 4
America must not hold to its breast the n
viper that would sting TO the death. !
As to the assassin of Mckinley, he is