The evening times. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1895-1902, 1901-09-07
A NATIONAL CALAMITY.
Cardinal Gibbons on the Attempted
ASsasstnHtion of the President.


BALTIMORE, sept Cardinal Glib
bons was informed by a reporter Of the
attempt on the Presidents life as the
Cardinal returned from a drive about Z
o'clock last evening He raised his
hands in mute suppHcation. and. in
voice which trembIed with emotion, eX-
claimed. Il hope from the bottom OF my
/. heart, sir, that you bring me some better
news than that which / have heard.
Upon being informed that the condition
Of the President was stfI very grave he
sank into a chair and said. 1T is sad in
deed that an insane fanatic can have IL in
his power TO endanger the life Of the mead
Of a great nation like this and a man pos
sessins the many virtues of President
/ Mckinley, The man who did 10 must be
a mailman The President has no per
sonal enemies, and no one but a mailman
would have committed such a deed. II.
/ however, he has a spark Of reason left
/ and il can be shown that he is response
bic no punishment would be too great for
him
After bowling his head in reflection for a
moment the Cardinal added. Il am nIIed
with sadness beyond expression AT receiv-
ing this news. / not only hor.- ed Presi-
dent Mckinley as the head OF a great ma
ton, but 1 have the privilege Of regarding
him as friend and am indebted % him
for many favOTS- L repeat that this aw-
ful calamity must have been the work Of
an insane man. Tor. while 1.-The President
had hosts OF political opponents, II seems,
incredible that ne cOUid have a personal
enemy But few Presidents who have Oc-
Cupied the chair have been better equip
ped for the Presidency than he. He was
trained for the place by having served his
Z i'm
man and Governor. and the effect of this
training has been repeatedly shown dur
ing his Presidential career
His characteristic virtues are patience
and fOrbearance- lie Is always ready 10
I receive anyone and TO give careful atten-
/ ton To any demands upon him. whatever
might be their character. The wound
which has been inflicted upon him is not
only national calamity, but comes as a
personal aflictiOn 10 every home in the
land Every son and every daughter in
the United States should feel It as they
would feel blow struck at the head OF
his or her family.
4 have always heard him most admir-
cd for his domestic virtues and for his
tender affection and solicitude for ais
wife. No more beautiful example Of do
nestle virtue and felicity has probably
ever been seen in this or any other coun-
try than that Of President and Mrs Nc
Kinley.
1t is my earnest prayer that the Lord
may spare him TO FIJI out the term he has
begun so well But whatever be the out
come Of this awful crime. OF course the
nation viii remain mistaken upon the
firm foundation our f0refathers buiIded
for IT, Perhaps the best tribute 20 the
stability Of our institutions Is evidenced
by the fact that while the blow at the
President arOuses universal sorrow and
indignation il does not in the least shake
our faith in the correctness Of the princi-
pies Of our Government and will not re-
tard for an instant its wheels. OF create
more than passing ripple upon the wa
tiers over which is gliding our noble ship
Of state
You may announce, II you viii" said
mis- eminence, in conclusion. that I will
order immediately that prayers shall be Of
fered in every church in my diocese on
Sunday next II he stu lives (and God
grant that he may. they Will be for his
. rapOEDrV