The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1901-12-03

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
sufficient to justify grave alarm among
all loyal American citizens Moreover,
the circumstances of this, the third as
sassination of an American president,
have a peculiarly sinister significance.
Both President Lincoln and President
Garfield were killed by assassins of
types unfortunately not uncommon in
history; President Lincoln falling
victim to the terrible passions aroused
by four years of civil war, and President
Garfield to the revengeful vanity OF
disappointed OfficeSeeker. President
Mckinley was killed by an utterly de-
praved criminal belonging to that body
of criminals who object to all govern
ments, good and bad alike, who are
against any form of popular liberty II
it is guaranteed by even the most just
and liberal laws, and who are as hostile
to the upright exponent of a free peo-
pies sober will as to the tyrannical and
irresponsible despot
MOST WIDELY LOVED MAN.
1t is not 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, W61le we nave 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 We're the first TO
bear the heartiest and most generous
tribute to the broad kindness of
nature, the sweetness and gentleness of
character which endeared him to his
close associates. To a 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 soldier
in the great war for the union, ne also
shone as an example to all our people
because of his conduct in the most
sacred and intimate of home relations.
There could be no personal hatred of
him. for he never acted with aught but
consideration for the welfare of Others
No one could fail to respect him who
knew him in public or private life The
defenders of those murderous Grim
inais who seek to excuse their criminal
ity by asserting that it is exercised for
political ends. inveigh against wealth
and irresponsible power. But for this
assassination even this base apology
can not be urged
OF MODERATE MEANS.
President Mckinley was man
of moderate means man whose
stock sprang from the sturdy tillers of
the soil, who had himself belonged
among the wage-workers, who had en-
tered the army as a private soldier
Wealth was not struck at when the
president was assassinated, but the
honest toll which is content with mod
crate gains after a lifetime of unremlt-
ting labor largely in the service of the
public Still less was power struck at
in the sense that power is irresponsible
or centered in the hands of any one in
dividual The blow was not aimed at
tyranny or wealth 1t was aimed at
one of the strongest champions the wage
worker has ever had: at one of the
most faithful representatives of the
system Of public rights and represen-
tative government who has ever risen
to public office. President Mckinley
filled that political office for which the
entire people vote, and no president
not even Lincoln hiInself-was ever
more earnestly anxious to represent the
well thought-out wishes of the people;
his one anxiety in every crisis was to
keep in closest touch with the people
to find out what they thought and to
endeavor to give expression to their