Evening star., 1901-09-20
FATAL FRIENDSHIP
Cardinal Gibbons Points Out That
Which Betrayed President.
HlS GREAT DOMESTIC VIRTUES
The Executive Must Continue to
Move Among His People.
ANARCHY TO BE CRUSHED

| Memorial services were almost universal
yesterday throughout the state of Mary
land. many congregations meeting and
| uniting in other than their own places OF
| worship. Perhaps the most important and
| impressive were the ceremonies at the
| cathedral In Baltimore, at which Cardinal
| Gibbons delivered the following eulogy:
| 1t has been my melancholy experience
| in the course of my sacred ministry to be
| startled by the assassination of three Pres
| idents of the United States. Abraham Lin
| coin was shot in 1865. James A. Garfield
was mortally wounded in 1881. and Will
lam Mckinley received a fatal wound on
the 9Th day of September. Mr.. Lincoln
was shot In a theater; Mr.. Garfield was
! shot while about to take train to enjoy
| needed vacation, and our late beloved Pres
ident fell by the hand of an assassin while
| lending the prestige OF his name and In
! huence to the success OF a national expo
| sition.
In the annals of crime 1t is difficult to
| find an instance of murder so atrocious
| SO wanton and meaningless the dssas-
sination of 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 in reveling and drunk
| enness and profanity. He suddenly
| struck dead by the hand of the Lord.
| How different was the life of chief
| magistrate. No court in Europe or In the
civilized world was more conspicuous for
| moral rectitude and purity. or more
| free from the breath of scandal than tho
| official home of President Mckinley He
| would have adorned any court in Christeh-
| dom by his civic virtues.
Brutus plunged his dagger into the heart
| of Caesar because of his overweening am
| bition. Whatever may have been the err
| rors of judgment the part of our late
| President (and who is free from them) no
! m N w nhar i'm wit fVr
or official corruption.
The Redeeemer of mankind was betrayed
| by the universal symbol of love. If may
/ reverently make the comparison, the Presi-
| dent was betrayed by the universal EN-
blem of friendship. Christ said to Judas,
Friend, betrayest thou the Son of Man
| with a kiss2' The President could have
| said to his slayer: "Betrayest thou the head
| of the nation with the grasp of the hand?"
| He was struck down surrounded by host
| of his fellow citizens, everyone of whom
would have gladly rsked his life in de-
| fense of his beloved chieftain
| Well Equipped to Rule.
| Few presidents were better equipped than
Mr.. Mckinley for the exalted position
| which het filled. When a mere youth he
| entered the Union army as a private sol
! dier during the civil war. and was pro-
NOTED for gallant service on the field Of
battle to the rank of major He served
his country for about fourteen years in the
halls of Congress, and toward the close OF
ms term he became one of the most con-
spicuous figures in that body. He after
ward served his state as governor.
AS President he was thoroughly CONVEX
SAINT with the duties of his office, and
could enter into its most minute details.
His characteristic virtues were courtesy
and politeness, patience and forbearance,
| and mastery self-control under very try
ing circumstances. When unable to grant
| a favor. he had the rare and happy talent
| to disappoint the applicant without Offend
| ing him.
| The domestic virtues Of Mr.. Mckinley
We're worthy of all praise. He was model
/! husband. Amid the pressing and engross-
| Ing duties of his official life he would from
| time to time snatch a few moments to
devote to the invalid and loving partner
| Of his joys and sorrows. Oh. what a
change has come over this afflicted woman!
Yesterday she was the first lady of the
| land. Today she is a disconsolate and
broken-hearted widow. Let us beseech
Him who comforted the widow of Main
that He console this lady in her hour Of
desolation.
1t is a sad reflection that some fanatic
or miscreant has it in his power to take
| the life of the head of the nation, and
| to throw the whole country into mourn
ing. 1t was, no doubt, this thought that
inspired some writers within the last few
days to advise that the President should
henceforth abstain from public receptions
and handshaking and that greater protec-
tion should be given to his person.
You might have him surrounded with
cohorts, defended with bayonets. and have
him followed by argus-eyed detectives. and
yet he will not be proof against the stroke
of the assassin. Are not the crowned
heads of Europe usually attended by mill
tary forces, and yet how many of them
have perished at the hand of some crimi-
nal.
Let the President BE Free.
No. let the President continue to move
among his people and take them by the
hand The strongest shield of our chief
magistrate is the love and devotion of his
fellow-citizens. The most effective way
to stop such crimes is to inspire the rising
generation with greater reverence for the
constituted authorities, and a greater
horror for any insult injury to their
person. All seditious language should be
suppressed. Incendiary speech Is too often
an incentive to criminal acts on the part
of many to whom the transition from
words to deeds is easy.
Let 1t be understood once for all that the
authorities are determined to crush the
serpent of anarchy whenever ii lifts it's
venomouS head.
We have prayed for the Presidents life.
but it did not please God to grant our pc
tition. Let one infer from this that our
prayers were in vain. No fervent prayer
ascending to the throne of heaven remains
unanswered. Let no one say what lady
remarked to me on the occasion of Prcsi-
she said, for the Presidents life. My
family have prayed for him, our congrcGa-
tion prayed for him, the city prayed tor
prayed for him and yet he died. What then
is the use of prayer?' God answers our pc
titions either directly or indirectly. IL lie
does not grant us what We ask, He gives US
something equivalent or better. II He has
not saved the life of the President, He pre-
serves the life of the nation, which Is of
more Importance than the life of an lndf-
vidual He has infused into the hearts OF
the American people a greater reverence
for the head Of the nation, and greater
adherence of assassination He has ir-
tensified and energized our love of coun-
try and our devotion to our political insti-
tGtionS.
The President Is dead. Long live the
President: William Mckinley has passed
away, honered and mourned by the nation.
Theodore Roosevelt succeeds to the title.
the honors and the responsibilities of the
presidential Office. Let his fellow-citizens
rally around him. Let them uphold and
sustain him in bearing the formidable bur-
den suddenly thrust upon him. May he be
equal TO the emergency and fulfill his duties
with cre dit to himself and may his admin
istraton rebound to the peace and pros
verify Of the American people.