The Worcester spy. [volume] (Worcester, Mass.) 1898-1904, 1901-10-05

months before, he had renewed his
oath of fealty to the republic. Then
the nation gave him back to the home
from which it had so often called him
to Its service. The funeral train sped
through the night half a nations
length. Soldier and sailor kept guard
at the head and feet of the command
er-in-chief. Living and dead rode
through the sea of silent faces. The
Watchfires along the way, the booming
minute guns, the tolling bells, the
thousands with bowed heads, gave
proof that the people watched with
their dead AS Whitman sang when
President Lincoln died, so the nation
again in mourning said: ::
Coffin that passes through lanes and
stress,
Through day and night, with the great
cloud darkening the land,
With the pomp of the inloop'd flags,
with the cities draped in black.
With the show of the states them
selves as of crape-veiled women
standing,
With professions long and winding and
the f1ambeaus of the night
With the waiting depot, the arriving
coffin and the sombre faces,
With dirges through the night with
the thousand voices rising strong
and solemn,
With all the mournful voices of the
dirges pour'd round the coffin.
The dim-lit churches and the shudder-
ing organs-where amid these you
journey
With the toiling, toiling bells per-
petual clang.
Here, coffin that slowly passes, I give
you my sprig of lilac.
With the "pomp of the inloop'd
flags" still about US, and in the midst
of nations grief, it is no time for
debate or for discussion. Some mem
cries may be recalled and some resolu-
tons taken. But the duty of the hour
is chiefly with the past. This is the
third sacrifice of an American presi-
dent on the altar of republican SIM
plicity.''
1t was on the day of Lincolns as
sassination that Garfield said, God
reigns, and the government at Wash
ington still lives" An angry mob had
assembled, feeling in some part that
the government was in danger, and
was on the verge of wreaking it's
vengeance on the detractors of the
dead president Garfield himself was
also to fall a victim to the assassin
pistol, and now the third sacrifice has
been offered. No despotism of Europe
has such a record. What safeguards
are to be cast about our presidents
this is not the time to discuss. But the
time has come to recognize and to en-
force that the President does not live
for himself alone. He represents the
republic. In each recurring election
the millions of people devote them
selves to his selection. For weeks ss1
months business is disturbed. To Sc
cure government by the people, and
rulers of our choice, we pay this con-
tinuo - price. When selected, the
President is the people, and his safety
must be guarded with the utmost |
solicitude. His life is more important !
than at of any king, whose son sue
ceeds( Nm. We have no right, day by |
assassin. The blow is not struck at
him, but at ourselves, and he suffers
because he represents us. Much as we !
value personal bravery and contempt (
of danger in our chief magistrate, it |
behooves us to stand between harm !
and him. Republican simplicity" !
must give way to American common |
sense, and the citizen President must !
yield himself to safeguards which Sc
cures his life.
One thing more The right of free |
speech must not be denied; full and !
fair discussion of public men and
political issues are q part of our herit- |
age. But caricature, denunciation, |
foul abuse and contemptuous ridicule !
of the American President, from what |
The American people have borne with I
them long enough. 1t has been the fad |
and fashion in certain circles to sheer |
at things American and to speak cos |
temptuously of men in high places to (
hold them up to public contempt; to |
use their names as opprobrious terms. |
How much effect such contumely has |
on weak men, how far it has caused |
the state of mind which has led to
these national tragedies. we cannot
know. But traitorous utterances be-
gets traitorous deeds. and no rank, or
wealth, or education should excuse .
them.
When a lawyer is raised from the
bar to the bench he at once is hedged
about with respectful conduct and re-
spectful speech. Caricature and abuse
of him is a contempt. The office dig
mites and protects the man. 1t is safe
and wholesome that such is the case.
Is the President of the United States
to be less regarded and respected?
If a man anywhere casts ridicule or
opprobrium on the flag he suffers on
he spot BY law you may not place
lame or symbol on it. Shall the name
and character of the nations head, the
lncrowned king. the representative of
g 900 900 people, be less sacred? 1t be-
looves us as Republicans to see that
he law recognizes the dignity of the
Republic in the person of it's Presi-
lent.
Having said this much, I hasten to
add a word in which we can all most
heartily join.
IT is with profound satisfaction that
we remember there has been no party
1r sectional difference in the tributes
If respect and generation which have
)een laid on President McKinley's
grave. Speaking in the hearing, and
n some sense for the Republican party.
desire to express our appreciation of
he eloquent words of estimate and
praise which our Democratic friends
and from the first have ut
erred. There is and has been, no ques-
ion of their sincerity. They mark the
act that no divergence of party opin-
on can long cloud appreciation of a
nan. And the SOUTH We have long i
'elt that bitterness of 40 years
ago was a thing of the past. And it
las been. The long, prospecting years
If peace, and the mingling of men,
nave made us one. The sudden call to
arms when our ship and sailors sank in
Havana Bay, and the instant rallying
o the flag, have proved that as a coun-
.ry we are not estranged. But it re-
luired this tragedy and this sacrifice to
show haw real and absolute in spirit
Is well as in constitution is the union
# the states. We are no longer states, :
ealous, watchful, discordant We are I
me people, with one country and one !
lag.
And the late President had no small 4