Gloucester County Democrat. (Woodbury, N.J.) 1878-1932, 1901-09-19
The Nation Mourns.

The nation bows in sorrow and in humil-
iation-in sorrow because of its chief execu
tive, its official head, is passing through
the valley of the shadow Of death-in
because the president Of our
republic has fallen victim to the cruel and
oowardly methods employed in monarchies
where helpless and hopeless subjects some
times meet arbitrary power with violence.
In morals and in the contemplation OF
law all lives are of equal value-all are
priceless when seyenty-five millions
of people select one of their number and
invest him with the authority which at
taches to the presidency he becomes their
representative and blow aimed at him is
resented as an attack upon all.
Beneath the partisanship of the individual
lies the patriotism of the citizen, 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 poignant but their sympathy is not
more sincere than that extended by poiiti-
cal opponents. Although none but his
family and his physicians are admitted
to his room, all his countrymen are at
his bedside in thought and sentiment and
their prayers ascend for his recovery. 1t
was characteristic of his thoughtfulness
that even amid the excitement following
the assault, he cautioned his companions
not to exaggerate his condition to his
invalid wife.
The latest dispatches give gratifying
news of his improvement, but there is still
deep solicitude lest unfavorable symptoms
may yet appear.
And the humiliation ! Are our public
servants-those who are chosen by the
people and who exercise for limited time
the authority bestowed by the people-are
these to live in constant fear of assassina-
ton? Is there to be no difference between
our constitutional government and those
despotic 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 political excuse
may be urged in its defense. The line
between peaceful agitation and violence is
clear and distinct We have freedom OF
speech and freedom of the press in this
country, and they are essential to the
maintenance of our liberties. If any one
desires to criticise the methods of govern
ment or the conduct of an official, he has a
perfect right to do SO, but his appeal must
be to the intelligence and patriotism of his
fellow citizens, not to force. Let no one
imagine that he can improve social or
political conditions by the shedding OF
blood.
Free governments may be overthrown,
but they cannot be reformed, by those who
violate the commandment, F'Thou shalt not
kill"
Under government like ours every
wrong can be remedied by law and the
laws are in the hands Of the people them
selves Anarchy can be neither excused
nor tolerated here. The man who pro-
poses to right public wrong by taking the
life of human being makes himself an
outlaw and cannot consistently appeal to
the protection of the government which he
repudiates. He invites return to state
of barbarism in which each one must, at
his own risk, defend his own rights and
avenge his own wrongs.
The punishment administered to the
would-be assassin and to his co-conspirators'
if he has any, should be such as to warn all
inclined to anarchy that while this is an
asylum for those who love liberty it is an
inhospitable place for those who raise their
hands against all forms of government.
1t is not difficult to detect the tide Of
sentiment that has set toward Gloucester
county's candidate for Governor the past
week. Indeed, those who don't want to
detect it, are forced to acknowledge that its
going that way with tremendous rush.
Democrats all over the State know that
Ferrel's in the race, and in it strong not
for "Jim" Smith or "Jim" Seymour or any
other "Jim," but for himself and har-
monious Democracy.
1t is important that the party enter the
Gubernatorial race this Fall with full ranks,
and under a non-factional leader. There
must be no laggards, no stragglers, no axes
to grind nor knives to sharpen, and Ferrell
more than any other candidate yet named
can bring about that condition.
The First District of New Jersey should
have no other candidate.