The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1901-10-07
SAFETY OF PRESIDENT
BETTER PROTECTION FAVORED BY
GROVER CLEVELAND.
He Opposes the Isolation Idea, How
ever, and Says the People Are En-
titled to See the Executive.

NEW YORK, Oct. President Gro
yer Cleveland, in the Philadelphia Saturday
Evening Post, writes on the subject of
THE Safety of the President" in opposition
to the suggestion that the chief magistrate
be isolated He thinks the people have the
right to come in contact with the President.
He believes that our policy in that respect
should remain unchanged, but that better
protection should be afforded the President
by the men whose duty II is to guard his
safety. He is in favor of rigorous laws to
stamp out anarchy, which he believes is
growing in spirit In these United States.
After voicing the demand of the people
that the-assassin shall be punished, the ex-
President says: THE chance is by no
means remote that our chief executive may
be assassinated and a great Nation be stag
gered by direful fear and apprehension,
and yet the foul life of the murderer may
be saved If the deed happens to be COM
mitted within the jurisdiction of a State
whose laws do not denounce the crime of
murder with the punishment of death. The
effect of this would be to heroize assassina-
ton in the Imagination of the enemies of
social order and TO make the foul murderer
a center of sympathy and pity among those
ut is at this time perfectly natural aud
justifiable cause of satisfaction that the
hopeless and self-convicted perpetrator of
the infamous crime which now darkens
with mourning every honest American
household can anticipate nothing more
gratifying to his brutal self-conceit and
nothing more heroically notorious or SEN
sational than a shameful death under the
law"
This is what Mr. Cleveland has to saw
about the idea of keeping the public away
from the President: 1T is not amiss tn add
that in discussing the curtailment of the
privileges long accorded to the public in
this regard, the President himself must be
reckoned with. We shall never have a
President who is not fond of the great mass
of his countrymen and who is not willing
to trust them. His close contact with them
is inspiring and encOura ging Their friend
ly greeting and hearty grasp of his hand
with no favors to ask and no selfish cause
TO urge, bring pleasant relief from official
perplexities and annoying opportunities
The people have enjoyed a generous access
TO their President for more than "A hundred
years. Weighing the remote chance of
harm against the benefit and qualification
of such access both TO himself and the peo-
pie. il can hardly be predicted that prof
ect for its abolition would be sanctioned by
any incumbent of the presidential chair
I'VE can no Longer" SAYS Mr.. Cleveland
doubt the existence and growth of a spirit
of anarchy in our midst. 1t seems to need
no special exciting cause TO arouse il TO
deadly activity. but deliberately plans muir
der in high places
The American people, he continues are
inquiring why we allow the growth OF. an
archy To cOntinue-why we let il gain a
foothold in our soil in the first place. He
goes on as follows: Nor will these ques-
toners be satisfied with mere relief from
the future importation of the dangers of
anarchy. They are asking If our popular
government would be subjected to mon
archical taint If strong and effective rem
edies were applied 10 the suppression of
the Vaccinations of Anarchists who have
already a foothOld among Us. They see
vagrantS, common gamblers suspected
criminals and disOrderly persons i'm the
hands of the law for the harm they NAV
do of feeble kind and within narrow linn
its; and they cannot understand WHY An
archists. whose diabolical character and
teachings are, ought to be. well known
are allowed 10 plot and cOnspire until
bloody assassination strikes down the en-
bodiment of efficient rule and shakes the
foundations of lawful authority
"Our people love liberty and are devoted
TO every guaranty of freedom to which
their government is pledged. In dealing
with anarchy. however, they impatientlv
chafe under the restraint which bids them
to wait for the tragedy il prepares and
10 content themselves with visiting retri-
button upon its worthless and misera BILE
tools. II to suppress and punish those who
directly or by suggestion incite asSassina-
tion savors of monarchy, they are prepared
to take the departure"