The Wilmington daily Republican., 1901-09-07

lHE enOotInR OF fTesiueut MIC.
Kinley makes the third time 10 our
history that the hand Of an assas.
sin has been raised against the
Chief Magistrate of the nation,
and for the third time the country
feels the shock OF a tragedy that
comes home to every true American.
"But while the general shock and
indignation are undiminished by
later details oi the attempt upon
the lie Of President Mckinley.
there will be 4 sensation OF univer.
sal relief In the statement that hls
assailant 10 not a native OF this
country aud that he openly pro-
claimed himself disciple of anar-
chy, though he contr adIcted himself
on this point later. In other words
it is not an American who has been
guilty oil this crime, and it was not
an American motive which prompt.
ed him.
The assassin and the anarchist
nave no excuse tor existence 10 this
country, but under our present
system o. generous nation al hospl.
tality, which admits without ques-
tion mer Of every creed and every
cline, they come in with the better
elements and become lestering sores
on the body polite.
Hitherto We have not only freely
admitted the anarchist aud crank
theorist Of high aud low degree, and
suffered them to proclaim their
strange doctrines without let or hin.
drance, but have permitted them to
arrange almost openly their muir
derous plots aud programs. This
was notoriously the case with re.
gard to the group of anarchists at
Paterson, N. j., from which place
Gaetano Bresci set out % his dead
ly mission against King Humbert.
There were reports at that time
that anarchists contemplated an
attack on President Mckinley, but
the Paterson associates Of Bresci,
| though openly svmpathizipg with
and rejoicing 10 Els deed. do not
appear to have received any spec.
cial attention from the legal auth
critics. The practical question
now forces itself on us, whether
sucn avowedly law!ess classes
should be treated with the leniency
and indifference which have hither-
to characterized our attitude to-
ward them. Our theory has been
that they would be comparatively
harmless If let alone aud suffered
to ENJOY the satety-valve OF talk.
But the terrible Chicago riot, the
assassination Of King Humbert bv
a member OF an American group,
and the shooting ol President Nc.
kinley combine to show that lenl-
ency IN dealing with them may he
agrave mistake. S-ll-preservat,on
is the first law OF nations as well Of
nature. and while personal liberty
must be maintained TO the fullest
extent, all should be made to un-
derstand that it cannot involve the
right TO inspire and encourage
views which necessarily lead 10
murder
We think we voice the sentiment
OF every American when we say
that that every anarchist should
be driven from this country or hung
on general principles. They are
OF the kind OF humanity who do not
realize what liberty and free
couGtry means. Ihey have no
right in America. Their place ls
where they were born. We cannot
see Why any body should wish the
death oil President Mckinley or
why his death would benefit the
cause OF anarchlsn. When the
news was first received ia our city
about clock. the public could
hardly bring themselves to believe
It, but the second telegram con-
hrmcd ii and there was intense ex-
c'tement on Market street. extras
being issued as late as s O'Clock.
The Nation was paralyzed with
sriet, Although the President 4
lie Is desDarcd OF there 10 hope O
his recovery. In the event his
death. Nlcc-presidcnt Roose vel
will succeed him III the " hi!e
House, serving out his unexpl.ed
term which has over three years tC
ran, The prayers Dt the people
VIII 60 up that his lite may bt
spared and the assassin quickly
punished as he deserves TO be.
IN nrls Ia