The daily journal. (Salem, Or.) 1899-1903, 1901-12-03

70 the Senate and House of Represen
tatives:
The Congress assemblies this yeaI
under the shadow of "a great calamity
On the 9th of September, President
Mckinley was shot by an, anarchist
while attending the Pan-Americar
Exposition at Buffalo, and died In tha
city on the 14th of that month. OF tho
last seven elected Presidents he Is th'
third who has been murdered and the
bare recital OF this fact Is sufficient tC
Justify grave alarm among all loya
American citizens. Moreover, the cir
cumstances of this, the third assassin-
alton of an American President, have
peculiarly sinister significance. Both
President Lincoln and President Gar
field were killed by assassins of types
unfortunately not uncommon In histo-
~: President Lincoln falling victim
TO the terrible passions aroused by four
years of civil war, and President Gar
Geld 20 the revengeful vanity OF dis
appointed iice-seeker. President Nc
Kinley was killed by an utterly de-
praved criminal belonging to that body
OF criminals who object to all govern
ments good and bad alike, who are
against any form OF popular liberty II
II iB guaranteed by even the most just
rnnd liberal laws and who are as hostile
TO ths upright exponent Of "A free peo-
pies sober will as to the tyrannical
and Irresponsible despot.
II Is not too much to say that at the
time OF President McKinley's death
he was the most widely loved man In
all the United States; while we have
never had any public man OF his posi-
ton who has been so wholly free from
lpatdant IN tttIh-
nllo. life His political opponents were
the flrst 10 bear the heartiest and most
generous tribute TO the broad lSindli-
ness OF nature, the sweetness and gem
tleness of character which so endeared
him to his close associates. To
standard OF lofty integrity In public life
he united the tender affections and
home virtues which are all important
ii. tha make up OF national character.
A Rallant soldier in the great war for
the union, he also shone as an exam
pie to all our people because OF his
conduct In the most sacred and inu-
mate of home relations. There could
be no personal hatred of him, for he
never acted with aught but considera-
lion for the welfare of others. No one
could fail TO respect him who knew
him IN public or private life.
The defenders Of those murderous
criminals who seek to excuse their
criminaiity by asserting that It is ex-
erclsed for political ends, inveigh
against, wealth and irresponsible pow
er. hut for this assassination even
this base apology cannot be urged.
pronldent Mckinley was man OF
moderate means. n man whose stock
spran6 from the sturdy tillers OF the
sol. Who had himself belonged among
the wage workers, who had entered the
army as a private soldier. Wealth was
not struck at when the President was
assasBnated. but the honest toll which
n conlept with moderate gains after a
llfetlliei or unremitting labor largely
Ia the service OF the public. Still less
was power struck at In the sense that
power Is irresponsible or centered In
the hands of any one individual. The
blow was not aimed at tyranny or
wealth. Il was aimed AT one of the
strongest champions the wage worker
has ever had: at one OF the most faith
ful representatives OF the system OF
public rights and representative gov
ernment who has ever risen to public
office. President Mckinley filled that
polltical office for which the entire
neouIe vote, and no President-not
even lAneoln himself-was ever more
earnestly anxious 10 represent the well
thought out wishes of the people; his
ona nnriety In every crisis was 10 keep
ia cIoaeat touch with the people-to
fndaout what they Thought and to en-
deaYoI % give expression TO their
thoashf after having endeavored to
guide that thought Alright He had
just been neglected to the Presidency
because the majority OF our citizens.
a. nd ~ urfl
workers. believed that he had faith
AMY upheid' their interests for four
wears They felt themselves in close
and Intimate touch with him. They
fdlG nat he represented so Well and so
honorably all their ideals and aspira-
lions that they wished him 70 continue
I0f onOther four years TO represent
I.1era. And this was the man at whom
|'a ksassin struck. That there might
81 noihing lacking 10 complete the
Iudaa-like infamy Of his act, he took
aa4nntage OF an occasion when the
Freo|dent was meeting the people gem
orally. and advancing as II TO take the
hand outstretched to him in kindly
and hFotherly fellowship he turned the
mobile and generous confidence or the
xies|m Into nm opportunity TO strike the
fatal blow. There Is no baser deed In
.al' l1e annals OF crime.
The shock. the grief OF the country
are IItter IN the minds OF al who saw
fEe haAk days. while the President yet
4AoQtf&d between life and death. At
|aKt ne light was stilled in the kindly
el| tHd the breath went from the lips
lI4l wen In mortal agony uttered no
words save OF forgiveness 10 his muir
teref ~ love for his friends and OF un-
InII.I|Itn trust IN the will OF the Most
ftlHn' 8uch a death. crowning the
H|oIS ~ such a life. leaves Us with in
H|'Ile 1Qffow. but with such pride In
what he had accomplished and In his