The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1901-09-09
NATIONS MORALS SHOCKED.
Rev. james A. knowltOn on Anarchy
and AssassinatiOn.

The Rev. James A. Knowlton, of South
street Baptist Church, abiding to the at
tempted assassination of the President in
his sermon yesterday morning, said:
There has been during all the ages and
among all people, at least with Few, de-
sire TO destroy kings and rulers. Inc rea-
son lies deep in the wickedness or the hedrt,
and because men attribute the disasters
which they bring upon themselves TO those
IN authority. During our century twenty
rulers have been slain. The Jews, IN
structed by the Almighty, had lofty con-
ception OF the king, and their rulers and
priests were sacred in their sight, yet IN
spite of this conception there were six kings
of Judea, including also the kingdom be
fore its division. slain in battle or by the
hand OF the assassin. Ten emperOrS out or
seventeen during the time from the aces
sion OF Augustus TO CommOdus, ~ years,
were slain or committed suicide. Such
showing at the height of pagan civilization
is certainly appalling.
Three of our Presidents in thirty-siX
years have been struck down by the assas-
sin $ bullet. Booth was of English decent,
Guiteau was of French extraction, the
miserable beast who shot down Mckinley
was of Polish lineage. The scum of the
world Is in our land and we may expect
anything from such miserable creatures in
the shape of men as we harbor. The shoot
ing OF President Mckinley is a shock to the
morals of our Nation. The outrageous deed
so distracts and darkens the minds that
generation will be required TO recover from
its effects.
More than that. it is a blow TO civiliza-
ton. We boasted in our liberties, in
wOrkingman's paradise, in the stability of
popular government. in enlightenment, but
in one sad hour the whole sky appears
dark. The battles which have fought
for liberty, the treasures we have expended,
the blood we have poured out from the
veins of our noblest men seem at this time
to be in vain. What have we more than the
Romans? Are we, in this great age, in
this enlightened era, any better off in some
respects than the heather? We boast in
our democracy, but it has been the means
of sacrificing some of the noblest lives of
the century. Law, force and the evils OF
militariSm may be the result of the crimes
and assassinations of the last half century.
How could anybody but a fiend shoot so
amiable a man as our President? His
character cannot be impeached. His kind
heartedness is one of his ennobling traits.
Another thing in his makeup is his far
sightedness. Men have never been willing
to allow that he is a great statesman, but |
ask where is there a man that has seen
deeper into the nature of things than he?
the people and interpreted their wishes?
History will place him the greatest
President since the days OF Lincoln. He
had the remarkable gift of managing men.
No one can tell how, but nevertheless he
leads men at his will. Those qualities men,
toned in themselves make man great.
Now l do not think the Nation is going to
ruin. / have the greatest confidence in the
sound sense of the American people. L
have also the greatest trust in the provi-
Dental guidance of God. We will come
forth nobler in the end. God save our Pres
ident and guide our Nation"