Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1901-09-26
CARDINAL GIBBONS EuLoGy.
Difficult to Find i'll the Annals of Crime
Instance of Murder Equal to the Murt

Baltimore, Md, Sept. 10. AT thei
impressive services held III the Catbe-
dral in honor of President Nc
kinley, this morning, Cardinal Glib
bons preached the sermon. He said:
II has been my melancholy experience |
in the course OF my sacred ministry to |
be startled by the assassination Of three |
Presidents OF the United States. ABBA.
ham Lincoln was shot in 1865. james |
A. Garfield was mortally wounded in |
1881, and William Mckinley received q
fatal wound on the sixth day Of Septem-
Der. Mr.. Lincoln was shot in a theatre
Mr.. Garfield was shot while about to
take train to enjoy needed vacation,
and our late beloved President fell by
the hand of an assassin while lending
the prestige of his name and influence
to the success OF national exposition,
In the annals OF crime 1t is dill
cult to find an instance of murder So
atrocious, SO wauton and meaningless
as the assassination Ut Mr.. Mckinley.
Some reason or pretext has been usually
assigned for the sudden taking away of
earthly rulers. Baltassar, the impious
King OF Chaldea, spent his last night
j a revealing and drunkenness and pro-
family. lie was suddenly struck dead
Dy Lne manu- OF Tue LOru, at'
How different was the life OF our
Chief Magistrate. No court IN Europe
or in the civilized world was more con-
spiouous for moral rectitude and purity,
or more free from the breath OF scandal
than the official home Of President Nc
Kinley. He would have adorned AIRY
court in Christendom BY his civic
| virtues.
Brutus plunged his dagger into the
henrt of Caesar because of his over
whelming ambition. Whatever may
have been the errors of Judgment on
| the part Of our late President land who
is free from theml no man can honestly
charge him with tyranny or official
corruption.
The Redeemer of mankind was betray-
Ell by the universal symbol Of love. If
| may reverently make the comparison,
| the President was betrayed by the uni
versal emblem of friendship. Christ
said to Judas Friend, bHtrayest thou
the Son of Man with a kiss2" The
President cou d nave said 10 his slayer I:
rs Betrayest thou the Head Of the Ma
tion with the grasp Of the hand?" He
| waa struck down surrounded by host
of his fellow citizens, everyone OF whom
would have gladly risked his life in
defence of his beloy led chieftain.
Few Presidents were better equipped
than Mr.. Mckinley for the exalted
position which he filled. When mere
youth he entered the union army as a
private soldier during the Civil War,
and was promoted for gallant service,
on the field OF hattie, 60 the rank Of
major. He served his country for about
IA years in the halls of Congress and
towards the close Of his term, he be-
came one of the most conspicuous
figures in that body. He afterwards
served his State as governor.
As President he was thoroughly con
versant with the duties OF his Office,
land could enter into Its most minute
details. His characteristic virtues were
courtesy and politeness, PATIENCE and
forbearance, and mastery self-control
under very trying circumstances. When
unable to grant favor. he had the rare
and happy talent to disappoint the
applicant without offending him.
The domestic virtues of Mr.. Mckinley
were worthy of all iaise He was a
model husband. Amid the pressing and
engrossing duties Of his official Lille, he
would from time to time snatch few
moments to devote to the invalid and
loving partner of his Joys and sorrows.
Oh, what change has CONS over this
afflicted woman! Yesterday she was
7 the first lady of the land. Today she
is disconsulate and broken hearted
widow. Let us heseech Him who com
forted the widow Of Main that he con
sole this lady in her hour of desolation
1t IS a sad reflection that some fanatic
or misoreant has it in his power TO TAXI
3 the life of the head Ut the nation, anC
! to throw the whole country into mourn
ing. 1t was no doubt this though
that inspired some writers within tn
last few days to advise that the Presi
n dent should hencelorth abstain from
/ public receptions and handwriting ant
4 that greater protection should be giyei
{ to his person.
o You might have him surrounded witt
cohorts, defended with bayonets, an.
have him followed by argus eyed detec
tives, and yet he will not be proc
against the stroke of the assassin. Ar
not tho crowned heads OF iGurop
= usually attended by military forces, 40,
= yet how many Of them have persisted a
. the hand of some criminal No, let tn
President continue to move among b i
: people and take them by the hand
The strongest shield Of our chief mag
istrate is the love and devotion of hi
fellow citizens. The most effective wa
to stop such crimes ia to inspire th
rising generation with greater REVEREND
for the constituted authorities, and
d greater horror for any insult or injur
g TO their erson. AL seditious languag
g should be suppressed Incendiar
!. speech is too often an incentive to erin
% inal acts on the part Of many to whoi
i; the transition from words to deeds
easy.
IS Let it be understood once for a
:, that the authorities are determine
y to crush tho serpent of anarchy wher
IL ever it lifts its venemous head
!, We have prayed for the President
81 life, but 1t did not please God to graz
/, our petition. Let no one infer froi
a this that our prayers were in vain, N
l. feryent prayer ascending to the thror
is of heaven remains unanswered. Let Il
r. one say what lady remarked to me Q
IN the occasion of President Garfield
O. death. II have Prayed" she sale
to for the Presidents life. My fami
ia have prayed Tor him, our congregatic
m prayed for him, the city prayed Fl
him, the State prayed for him, Il
o. nation prayed for him, and yet be diet
81 What then is the use OF prayerY
l. God answers our petitions either d
or rectly or indirectly. IL He does o
e., grant us what we ask, He gives
0, something equivalent or better. II |
has not saved the life OF the Presiden
He preserves the life OF the natio
which il of more importance than ii
I'd life of an individual. He has infus
at into the hearts of the American peor
81. | a uraafat faparan ra for TIM hand NJ h