The Kalispell bee. [volume] (Kalispell, Mont.) 1900-192?, 1901-09-21
NO PLACE FOR ANARCHY.
From Bryans Commoner.


umilation-in sorrow because it's
chief executive, it's official head is
passing through the valley of the sha-
dow of death-in humiliation because
the president of our republic has fall
len a victim to the cruel and cowardly
methods employed in monarchies
where helpless and hopeless subjects
sometimes meet arbitrary power with
violence
In morals and in contemplation of
law all lives are of equal value-all
are priceless-but when seventy-hve
millions select one of their number
and invest him with the authority
which attaches to the presidency he
becomes their representative and a
blow aimed at him is resented as an
attack upon ALL
Beneath the partisanship of the in
dividual lies the patriotism of the cit
lZen. sometimes dormant, it is true,
but always active in hours of peril
or misfortune. While the presidents
life hangs in the balance there are no
party lines. The grief Of personal
friends and close political associates
may be more sincere than that ex-
tended by political opponents. All
though none but his family and phys
lcians are admitted to his room, all
ms cOnntrymen are at his bedside in
thought and sentiment and their
prayers ascend for his recovery. 1t
was characteristic of his thoughtful
ness. that even amid the excitement
following the assault, he cautioned his
companions not to eXaggerate his con-
ditiOn to his invalid wife.
And bn
lie servants-those who are chosen
by the people ana who exercise for
limited time the authority bestowed
by the people-are these to live in con-
slant fear of assassination? Is there
to be no difference between our con-
stitutional government and those de-
spotlc governments which rest, not
upon the consent of the governed. but
upon brute force?
There is no place for anarchy in the
United States; there is no room here
for those who commit, counsel or
condone murder. no matter what pol
itical excuse may be urged in it's de-
Tense. The line between peaceful agi-
| tatiOn and violence is clear and dis
tlnct. We have freedom of speech
| and freedom of press in this country,
and they are essential to the main
tenance of our liberties. If anyone de-
sires to criticse the methods of gov
eminent or the conduct of an official
| he has a perfect right to do so. but
| his appeal must be to the intelligence
of his fellow-citizens, not to force.
! Let no one imagine that he can i'm
prove social or political conditions
| by the shedding of blood. Free gov
ernments may be overthrown but they
| cannot be reformed by those who
| violate the commandments: Thou
shalt not kill"
Under a government like ours
every wrong can be remedied by law
and the laws are in the hands of the
people themselves. Anarchy can be
neither excused nor tolerated here.
The man who proposes to right a
public wrong by taking the life of a
human being makes himself an out
law and cannot consistently appeal
to the protection of the government
which he repudiates. He invites a re
turn to the state of barbarism in
which each on must. at his own risk
which each one must. at his own risk
own wrongs.
| The punishment administered to
the would-be assassin and his co con
spirators, if he has any. should be
such as to warn all inclined to anar
chy that while this is an asylum fol
those who love liberty it is an inhos
pitable place for those who raise
their hands against all forms of gov
eminent.