Middletown transcript., 1901-09-21

4 OSA ODG l6uSbIl dIlO
breadth of our land, one subject is upper
most in every mind and one sorrow hold
possession of every heart. The chic
magistrate of our nation lies dead, slair
by the hand of an assassin. For weeE
the interest of all our people centerec
in that sick room in Buffalo where lay
the stricken form of the President. DAY
by day hope grew as the bulletins of the
physicians, seemingly so conservative
spoke first of the possibility, then of the
probability, then of the almost certainty
of ultimate recovery We had begun
to feel that it was question of only 8
few weeks at most when the President
would again be at his post and well on
the way to the possession of his accus-
toned strength. Then came on Thurs
day night the ominous words "The
President not so WELL" We hoped they
meant but little. But, alas, in few
hours the dark clouds of anxiety gathered
thick and fast. Hopes gave way to mis-
giving, then to despair. There was but
a fighting chance, then no chance at all.
We listened bewildered, it seemed like
terrible dream, we had lingering hope
even to the end that the sufferers physi-
cal strength would reassert itself. But
it was not to be SO. Gods ways are not
as mans ways, AT last came the sad
announcement that the struggle was
over The President had passed away.
For third time in the history of our
country and within the short period of
thirty-siX years, a President of the United
States has been slain BY tic bullet of an
assassin.
There could he no fairer sky than that
from which the bolt has this time fallen.
When Lincoln fell at the hand of Booth,
the nation was just emerging from the
throes Of civil war. Excitement ran
high. Passions were deeply stirred.
Under such circumstances we can at least
see how wicked hand could be led by
hot head to such a deed of blood.
Twenty years ago when Garfield fell the
nation was at peace. Yet bitter fac
tional quarrel within the lines of a great
political party had stirred the evil in
mems hearts and gave the unbalanced
mind of miscreant its terrible occasion.
But one week ago last Friday there
seemed no cloud discernible in all our
national sky. The land was rejoicing in
peace and prosperity. Beyond all his |
since Monroe, perhaps we |
may say since Washington, the President |
enjoyed the good will of all classes, all |
parties and of every portion of the land |
Only the day before in a speech which |
is destined yet, l believe, to have large
influence in shaping our future policies
the Pesident marked out plainly and
the new path in which he
would have the nation advance to vet
1roadpr aTd Strnnnor
very time that the assassination took
place he stood within the courts of an
exhibition which proclaimed more elo-
luently than words the greatness of
America, and received from hundreds
ind thousands of his fellow eountrymen
! tribute of honor which was intended
or the man as well as for the Office which
le held. Then in that halcyon hour of
happiness and peace, there came with
,wful guddenness the deed that has now
ut short great career and cast pail
# sadness over millions and millions of !
learts.
No crime could be more wicked, none
more absolutely inexcusable. 1t is no
yrant, exulting in misused power at the | s
Expense of bis fellowmen who has now | I
cen smitten to the dust; it is a man
chosen-by the unfettered 7
uffrages of free people to be their I
eryant and representative: it is man
{ noble character and kindly bearing: g
is man whose chief thought was not a
self but of his country and his countrv's I
ood: it is man who gave himself wholly, d
bsolutely, unsparingly to the duties Of S
ne high office which the people had t
hosen him to fill. The wretched crea- O
Ire who has done this irreparable wrong
1uld give to-day no Ineligible reason &
)r raising his hand against a ruler SO n
ure, so upright, SO true-hearted. Even 7
n the principles of anarchism (if the o
follies of anarchists can be dig II
flied by the name of principles) no pos c
BILE good could be attained by striking
own a ruler when his place will GER a
.inly be filled at once by another, in no ii
Use more acceptable to them and not le
kelly to change in any material respect G;
lie conduct of affairs. The folly of such Il
deed then is equal to its wickedness. c.
We all feel bereaved. The death OF II
ne SO loved comes to us all as it were a 81
srsonal sorrow. Yet at this time our W
carts go out especially to her to whom RI
lis grief comes with keenness which h
axes the grief of others seen. in COM tt
arison as nothing. The circumstances u
the case make special demand upon es
lr sympathy. We have here a wife n
burning for husband loved and hon Vi
ed. But those words which tell SO ia
uch do not here tell the whole story.
II account of her invalid and childless pl
the tie that bound the wife to re
e husband was in this case peculiarly TO
nder. The knowledge of their deep al
lection touched all hearts. 1t is only h;
W short weeks ago that we were all er
atching with anxiety for tidings from st
II sick bed in far California. We felt ar
,eply for our President then as he ne
owed himself Sc tender Sc true, Sc sh
nple hearted in those days of grievous m
al. To-day he who stood by her then w
,ower of strength is stricken down as in sti
and she is left alone-it would WI
em it cannot be for long-with no sons sti
daughters to help her bear her sorrow, it
alone to endure the most terrible grief wi
at could come into her life. God have hi
~ upon her in the unspeakable horror ces
great darkness that has closed in st;
)und her. +, No human aid can bring his
ief. The loving Father OF us all alone sal
4 bring her peace. Oh
We turn, also, with respect and true ne
npathy, to the man now raised SO un-
pectedly to the highest place in our me
lion. He must take up manifold ma
ties and an almost crushing weight of He
but though yet a very life
ing man (younger considerably, l be- out
re, than any other who has attained bin
it high office he is honored far and Hi
lie for his great abilities, his unques- rel
ned integrity, his unflinching courage, fro
conspicuous manliness. There were the
ne who year ago regretted deeply Chi
action which took him from a post an(
ere he was rendering notable service thi
his own great state and placed him in An
'osition which, though nominally of ant
her rank, seemed apparently less life
ted to his forceful abilities. But God one
ows better than man. He controls the we
lrts and the deeds of men after His did
n counsels. And to-day it is a large ser,
tor in the confidence of all the people Lif
t one already tried and not found ha,
nting has been called to the helm of He
se. For him we raise our prayers this wit
: that God will behold and bless him, can
t He will replenish him with the sibl
ce of His Holy Spirit, that so he may no
form with wisdom the duties of the VIII