The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1901-12-04
A MORE POWERFUL NAVY
For Keeping the Army at the Highest
Point of Efficiency. Civil Govern
ment in Certain Sections Of the Phili-
pines May Have to be Withdrawn
for Time. Extension of Civil Ser
vice. Let Us Build the Isthmian
Canal. The Monroe Doctrine Up
held,
(By the Associated Press.)


Washington, Dec 2.-The President S
message which was read in both houses
of Congress today is as follows:
To the Senate and House Of Represen-
tatives:
The Congress assemblies this year un-
der the shadow of a great calamity. On
the sixth of September, President Nc
Kinley was shot by an anarchist while
attending the Pan American Exposition
at Buffalo, and died in that city on the
fourteenth of that month.
OF the last seven elected Presidents
he is the third who has been murdered
and the bare recital of this fact is suff-
cient to justify grave alarm among all
loyal American citizens. Moreover, the
circumstances of this, the third asassi-
nation of an American President, have a
peculiarly sinister significance. 10th
President Lincoln and President Garfield
were killed by assassins of types unfor-
tunately not uncommon in history; presi-
dent Lincoln falling victim to the terri
BILE passions aroused by four years CT
Civil War, and President Garfield to the
reyengeful vanity of a disappointed Of
fice-seeker. President Mckinley was
killed by an utterly depraved criminal
belonging to that body of criminals who
object to all governments good and bad
alike. who are against any form o. popu-
lar liberty if it is guaranteed by even
the most just and liberal laws, and who
are as hostile to the upright exponent
of free peoples sober will as to the
tyrannical and irresponsible despot
1t is not too much to say thar at the
time of President McKnleys death he
was the most widely loved man in I'll the
United States; while we have never had
any public man of his position who has
been SO wholly free from the litter ami
mosities incident to public lie. HIS politi-
cal opponents were the first to bear the
heartiest and most generous tribute to
the broad kindliness of nature, the sweet
ness and gentleness of character which so
endeared him to his close associates. To
a standard OF lofty integrity in public life
he united the tender affections and home
virtues which are all-important in the
makeup of national character. A gallant
soldier in the great war for the Union, he
also Shone as an example to all our
people because of his conduct in the
most sacred and intimate o. home rela-
tions. There could be no personal hatred
of him, for he never acted with aught but
consideration for the welfare of others.
No one could fail to respect him who
knew him in public Or private life. The
defenders of those nurderous criminals
who seek to excuse their criminalty by
asserting that it is exercised for political
ends, inveigh against wealth ard irreSpon-
sible power. But for this assassination
even this base apology cannot be urged.
President Mckinley was a man of mod
crate means, a man whose stock sprang
from the sturdy tillers Of the soil, who
had himself belonged among the wage
workers, who had entered the Army as q
private soldier. Wealth was not struck
at when the President was assassinated,
but the honest toll which is content with
moderate gains after lifetime OF un-
renting labor, largely in 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 in
dividual The blow was not aimed at
tyranny or wealth. 1t was aimed at cne
of the strongest champions the wage.
worker has ever had; at ore Of the
most faithful representatives of the sys-
tenn of public rights and representative
government who has ever risen to public
office. President Mckinley fllad that po-
litical office for which the entire people
vote, and no President--not even Lincoln
himself-was ever more earnestly anxious
to represent the we'll thought out wishes
OF the people: his one anActy in every
crisis was to keep in closest touch with
the people-to find olit what they thought
and to endeavor to give expression to
their thought, after having epdoavored to
guide that thought arigle. IIe hal just
been reelected to the Presidency la-
cause the majority of or citizens. the
majority of our farmers and wage -woI kers
believed that he had faithfully upheld
their interests for four years. They felt
themselves in close and intimate touch
with him. They felt that he represented
so well and so honofab!y al their ideals
and aspirations that hey wished him to
continue for another four years 20 repre-
sent them.
And this was the man at whom the as