The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1901-12-06

To the Senate and House of Represen-
tatives:
The congress assembled this year un-
der the shadow Of a great calamity.
On September 9Th President Mckinney
was shot by an anarchist while attend
ing the Pan-American exposition al
Buffalo. and died in that city on the
14th 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 SUI
ficient to justify grave alarm among
all loyal American citizens Moreover
tho circumstances of this, the third as
sassination of an American president,
have a peculiarly sinister signlhcance'
Roth President Lincoln and PRESIDENT
Garfield were killed by assasslns Oh
tvpes unfortunately not uncommon IN
history: President Lincoln faillns d
victim to the terrible passions aroused
bv four years of civil war, and Pfesl-
dent Garfield to the revengeful VANITY
of a disappointed officeseeker. Presl-
dent Mckinley was killed by an utter
" depraved criminal belonging to that
hody of criminals who object 10 all
governments good and bad ahke' VINO
are against any form of popular hoel-
tv if it is guaranteed by even the fnost
lust and liberal laws, and VINO F.r3 as
hostile to the upright exponent or
free peoples sober will as to the tyran-
nical and irresponsible despot.
A Tribute to Mckinley
IT is not too much to say that at the
time of President McKinley's death ne
was the most widely loved man In ali
the United States; while we nave never
had any public man of his posltlon VINO
has been so wholly free from the oltter
animosities incident to public lie. his
political opponents were the nrsl u
hear the heartiest and most generous
+ribute to the broad kindliness or ma
+ure the sweetness and gentleness OIL
character which so endeared hlm to
his close associates. To a stanoaro VI
lofty integrity in public life ne uni'eo
the tender affections and home Virtues
which are all-important In the naheup
of national character. A gailant SUI
d;er il, the great war for the unlon' ne
also shone as an example to all oui
people because of his conduct In the
most sacred and intimate of home reia-
tions. There could be no personal nat
red of him, for he never acteo Win
.upht hut consideration for the welfare
of others. No one could fail to respect
him who knew him in public life. Tne
defenders of those murderous crlHhh'lis
who seek to excuse their crlm1hahas
: nv asserting that it is exercised 1or po-
-s,;tical ends. inveigh against wealtn
and irresponsible power. But LOT this
assassination even this base apology
cannot be urged.
President Mckinley was man oi
moderate means, a man whose s'oeh
snrang from the sturdy tlilers VI
the soil. who had himsen oeio''S
cd among the wage-workers, VINO
had entered the army as private SOL
der. Wealth was not struck at "hen
the president was assassinateo, puI 'he
honest toll which is content with "oo-
.r.+a gains after lifetime or unre-
,,;++;np labor. largely in the service OF
the public. Still less was power siueh
AT in the sense that power is irrespoh-
sible or centered in the hands OF any
one Individual The blow was not ann :
ed at tyranny or wealth. 1t was aimee
at one of the strongest champions the
wage-worker has ever had; at one OF
the most faithful representatives. o' Tue
system of public rights and representa-
tive government who ever rose TO pup
lie office President Mckinley niieo
that political Office for which the enure
people vote, and no president-not even
Lincoln himself-was ever mere earn