The Billings gazette. [volume] (Billings, Mont.) 1896-1919, 1901-09-20
NO PLACE FOR ANARCHY.

Bryan's, Commoner: The nation
bows in sorrow and in humiliation-il
sorrow because it's chief executive, it's
official head, is passing through the
valley of h shadow of death; in hum
iiiation because the president of our
republic has fallen a victim to the
cruel and cowardly methods employed
in monarchies, where helpless and
hopeless subjects sometimes meet
arbitrary power with violence.
In morals and in the cortempla.
ton of law all lives are of equal value
all are priceless. But when sever
ty five millions of people select one
of their number m invest him with
tie authority which attaches to the
presidency, he becomes their repre-
sentative, and a blow aimed at him
is resented as an attack upon all
Beneath the p%artisanship of the in
dividual lies the patriotism of the citi-
zen, sometimes dormant, it is true
but always active in hours of peril
or misfortune. While the presidents
life hangs in the balance there are
no party lines. The grief of personal
friends and close political associates
may be more poignant, but their sym-
pathy is not more sincere than that
extended by political opponents. AL
though none but his family and his
physicians are admitted to his room.
all his c~ountrymen are at his bedside
in thought and sentiment, and their
prayers ascend for his recovery. IT
was characteristic of his thoughtful
ness that, even amid the excitement
following the assault, he cautioned his
companions not to exaggerate his con-
d1tlon to his invalid wife,
And the humiliation! Are our p1b-
lie servants-those who are chosen
by the people and who exercise for
a limited time the authority bestowed
by the people-are these to live in
constant fear of assassination? Is
there to be no difference between orr
constitutional government and those
despotic governments which rest not
upon the consent of the governed.
but Upon brute force?
There is no place for anarchy in the
United States; there is nc, room here
for those who commit, counsel
or condone murder, no matter what
political excuse may be urged in it's
defense. The line between peaceful
agitation and violence is clear and dis
tlnct. We have freedom of speech
ana freedom of the press in this coun-
try, and they are essential to the
maintenance Of our liberties. If anv
II desires to criticise the methods
OF government or the conduct of an
Official, he has a perfect right to do
SO, but his appeal must be to the intel.
ligence and patriotism of his fellow
citizens, not to force. Let no one i'm
agine that he can improve social or
political conditions by the shedding Of
blood.
Free governments may be over
thrown, but they cannot be reformed
by those who violate the command
ment "Thou shalt not kill"
Under a government like ours ev-
cry wrong a be remedied by law,
and the laws are in the hands of the
people themselves. Anarchy can be
neither excused nor tolerated here.
The man who proposes to right a
public wrong by taking the life of a
human being makes himself an outlaw
and cannot consistently appeal to the
protection of the government which
r%epudiates. He invites a return to
a state of barbarism in which each
one must, at his own risk, defend his
own rights and avenge his own
wrongs.
The punishment administered to the
assassin and to his Cocoon
s%pirators, if he has any. should be
such as to warn all inclined to anar-
chy that while this is an asylum for
those who love liberty, it is an inhos-
pitable place for those who raise their
hands against all forms of govern.
SUPREME COURT REVERSED