The Lewiston teller. (Lewiston, Idaho) 1900-1905, 1901-12-05

6enLaClV6S:
The congress assemblies this year un.
der the shadow Of a great calamity.
On the 9th of September, President Nc,
Kinley was shot by an anarchist while
attending the Pan-American Exposition
at 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, the
circumstances Of this, the third assas-
sination OF an American president,
have peculiarly sinister significance.
Both President Lincoln and President
Garfield were killed by assassins of
types unfortunately not uncommon in
history; President Lincoln falling A
victim to the terrible passions aroused
by four years Of civil war. and Presi.
dent Garfield to the revengeful vanity
Of a disappointed office-seeker. Presi-
dent Mckinley was killed by an utter
ly depraved criminal belonging to that
body Of criminals who object to all gov
ernments, good and bad alike. who are
against any form of popular liberty If
1t Ia guaranteed by even the most just
and liberal laws, and who are as hos
tile to the upright exponent Of free
peoples sober will as to the tyrannical
and irresponsible despot.
1t is INTO too much to say that at the
time Of President McKinley's death he
was the most widely loved man in all
the United States; while we have never
had any public man of his position who
has been so wholly free from the bitter
animosities incident to public life. His
political opponents were the first to
bear the heartiest and most generous
tribute to the broad kindness of ma
ture, the sweetness and gentleness of
character which SO endeared him to his
close associates. To q standard of lofty
integrity In public life he united the
tender affections and home virtues
which are all-important in the makeup
Of national character. A gallant sol
der in the great war for the Union,
he also sh0ne as an example to all our
people because Of his conduct in the
most sacred and intimate Of home re-
lations. There could be no personal
hatred Of him, for he never acted with
aught but consideration for the welfare
Oe others. No one could fail to respect
him who knew him In public or private
life. The defenders Of those murder
criminality by asserting that 1t Is ex-
ercised for political ends. inveigh
against wealth and irresponsible power.
But Tor this assassination even this
base apology cannot he urged.
6uch a death, browning the glory of
such life. leaves US with infinite sor-
row, but with such pride in what he
had accomplished and in his own per-
'sonal character, that we feel the blow
not as struck at him, but as struck at
tina. nation. We mourn good and
great president who Is dead; but while
we mourn We are Lifted up by the splen-
did achievements Of his life and the
grand heroism with which he met his
death.
When we turn from tho man to the
nation. the harm done Is so great as to
excite our gravest apprehensions and
TO demand our wisest and most resolute
action. This criminal was q professed
anarchist, inflamed by the teachings Of
professed anarchists, and probably al
so.a3y the reckless utterances Of those
who, on the stump and in the public
pres; appeal to the dark and evil spir-
its uf malice and greed, envy and sui
len hatred. The blow was aimed not
At this president but at all presidents;
at every symbol Of government.
The anarchist, and especially the an.
atchlst in the United States, is merely
one type Of criminal, more dangerous
than any other because he represents
the same depravity In greater degree.
j earnestly recommend to the con,
gress that In the exercise Of its wise
discretion It should take into consider
alton the coming to this country OF an
archists or persons protesting princi-
pies hostile to all government aud justi-
tying the murder Of those placed in
authority. Such individuals as those
who not long ego gathered In open
meeting to glorify the murder OF King
Humbert Of Italy perpetrate crime.
and the law shouA ensure their rigor-
'ous punishment They and those like
them should be kept out Of this coun.
try: and II found here they should be
promptly deported to the country
whence they came; and farreachdng
provision should be made for the pun.
ishment Of those who stay. No matter
calls more urgently for the wisest
thought OF the congress.
The, federal courts should be given
Jurisdiction over any man who kills or
attempts to kin the president or any
man who BY the constitution or by law
10 In line pt succession for the presi-
dency. white the punishment Tor an un-