The age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1897-1902, 1901-09-09
Dr.. Curry Condemns the Out
rage in Onstintsd
Terms
ARE GIVEN TOOMUCH LIBERTY
Anarchists Should Not Be Allowed to
Hold Meetings Where Their
Murderous Plans Are
hatched..

Every minister who filled a pulpit In
Birmingham yesterday referred to the at
tempted assassination of President Nc
Kinley. The tributes to the stricken
executive were as eloquent as the con-
demnation of the outrage was forceful.
The Rev A. B. Curry of the First
Presbyterian church took as his subject
civil Government and God" The text
was from Romans 12, first and second
verses, as follows.
Let every soul be subject unto the
higher powers. For there Is no power
but OF God The powers that be are Of
dained OF God Whosoever therefore re-
sisteth the power resisteth the ordinances
of God. And they that resist shall re-
ceive themselves damnation.'
During the course of the sermon DR..
Curry said In part:
Grief Not Confined to Any Section.
"Our whole country. North and South,
East and West, irrespective of section,
race or political creed, was inexpressibly
shaken by the news flashed over the
wires Friday afternoon that our honored
and beloved President had been felled by
the bullet of an assassin. Twice before
has the chief magistrate of our republic
fallen in similar way: one by the hand
of fanatic maddened by the awful pas
sions engendered by civil war; another
by an Infatuated partisan, and disappoint-
ed office seeker But this deed differs
from the preceding two, in that 1t was
committed by one representing a class,
any one OF which would nave gladly per-
formed the same lawless deed. They
call themselves anarchists which means
no rule They are opposed to all rule
or government, whether by one or by
many, whether monarchy or republic;
but their avowed purpose. IL to kill all
rulers or heads in whom civil govern
ment is represented and centered. Near
ly all civilized countries have felt their
malice and power in the attempted or
accomplished killing of their rulers:
Russia, France, Austria Germany, Italy.
In. this free and happy republic 1T was
thought there was no field for the an
archist, and heretofore they have con-
tented themselves with incentiary writ
ihgs and speeches, with an occasional
murderous attack on the humber repre-
sentatives of the government as in the
Haymarket riot of some years ago,
when in Chicago number of policemen
were killed by dynamite bombs thrown
by anarchists.
Seek a Higher Head.
But now they eave stricken down our
chief magistrate, the President of the
upright ruler, a pure, noble man. a spaen-
did Christian gentleman and the shot
that laid him low was aimed really at
the government of which he Is the head,
and at every law abiding citizeh of whom
he Is the representative.
'Banished from other lands, this coun-
try has furnished anarchists safe asylum
here they are free to work for universal
anarchy to hold their public meetings,
to propagate by speech and press their
murderous doctrines. They do not con-
ceaa their purposes; these are open and
avowed; they only conceal their plans.
In Paterson, N. j.. they planned the
death of Dtaly's good King. In the same
place they triumphantly drank toasts to
the assassin Of our President, whose
deed they openly applaud. This Is the
land of liberty, the country of free
speech and a free press: but it Is seri-
Gus question whether cur government
should harbor and protect these men and
women. who avowedly are seeking Its
overthrow, and that too by most dia-
bolical methods. We believe In liberty
of opinion and free speech; but we also
believe in the law OF seif-presertation,
and the two must balance each other.
Anarchists may be regarded as the mad
dogs and rattlesnakes OF human society.
1t may be their misfortune rather than
their crime. burt none the less society
must protect itself.
There Is many mad dog that has
never attacked any one, but we do not
on that account let them run at large:
there Is many rattiesnake that has new
er bitten any one, but we do not ON that
account give them the free range of our
parks and homes. If man openly
avows his desire and purpose to kill his
neighbor you can bind him to keep the
peace. If sane; ana n not, you can send
him to the insane asylum. When anar-
chists epenely avow their desire and pur.
pose to kill rulers and destroy govern
ment, there ought to be some way of