The commonwealth. (Scotland Neck, N.C.) 1896-1929, 1902-01-02
A BEAUTIFUL TRIBUTE.

A BEAUTIFUL TRIBUTE.
In his charge to the grand jury at
the last term of the court in Halifax,
Judge F. D. Winston made some beau
tiful observations on the death of
President Mckinley. We have not
had space for them until now. Judge
Winston said in part:
"Recent occurrences, Mr.. Foreman
and gentlemen, warrant me in referring
to a growing spirit of opposition to
law which is manifested in all parts OF
our country and in every phase of our
life. You were startled month ago
by the reported assassination OF the
President of these United States. We
have beard often of assaults upon king
and potentate. It has almost become
an every day occurrence to hear that
royalty has been slain by anarchists.
"The shooting of the President was
q new phase OF the anarchists work
He sought his victim in a public
throng. He found him with glad
hand extended to greet the lowest of
our land. His hand and smile were
given even to his murderer. He was
surrounded by evidences of his coun-
try's greatness, and emblems Of the
power of land where all are tree. The
assassin had neither personal nor party
grievance to redress. Mckinley had
done him nc wrong. He fired his
shot. The world bent In prayer and
stood In hope that the President would
live. The prayer was not answered,
the hopo was vain and he died. 1T Is
Gods way. His will be DONE An
archy had done the work.
"The President, beloved by his peo-
pie and admired by the civilized world,
yielded before the terror. Hate, muir
der and destruction barbeo the poison
ed arrow which went true to the mark
Our land was in gloom and with us
nations mourned. Our weeping ma.
ton bore his form home and laid
it there to rest !; there whence he rose
to place and honor. He spent bis
youth Of hardship and struggle in the
city OF Canton. Here he lived and
was buried. How beautiful the hal
lowed spot where he rests in peace! Il
is in West Lawn Cemetery. He ha5
seen it under the pulsa ting breath o
spring with natures bursting buds, ii
summers vesture OF green and bloom
amid autumn's tints, variegated and
golden and under winters snow,
mantle. The thought must have com,
to him whei he too would lay his bur
den down and gently rest amid TIT
scene his name has made immortal
That thought was peace. The act wa
war. Near him sleep the friends dea
to his heart, when that heart glove,
with the possession of HE and tn
sacred feelings OF friendship Coul'
his ear, in the silence OF the tomb
catch the sound Of the world without
he could yet hear the sobs of thos
who knew him best and loved hin
rost. His death turns our thought
as they have Fever been turned.
"Thrice within a generation tn
head OF our nation has been slair
Lincoln net his death at the band {
an insane actor who proclaimed i
tragic madness that he was avengin
wrong and injury done his South
land. His death brought universs
grief. No man for a moment believe
that influences were at work unde
mining the base of our government
Garfield died at the hands Of a polit
cal lunatlc, who had the person.
grievance of disappointed ambition
and who declared that his deed wou]
unite his political party then rent /
internal fued. Again the sorrow VI
world wide and our Southland W
given credit for sincerity in grie
which had been denied us when th
other martyr died. When Carrie
was shot no man looked beyond
fed in his death evidences OF the
structlon OF our fabric OF government
Mckinley had done Czolgosz no wron
They were citizens of the same Stat
they were members of the same n
litical party and that party was
power and in seeming popular fave
The assassin had never faced his vi
tim before. He was an anarchist a,
William Mckinley was shot becar'
he represented in his life and in t
high Office law and order, belief
God and in the sacredness OF marrias
The man who shot believed in no
of these.
When Mckinley died our though
became active and to day We ask O,
selves and ask each other: What
to be the endy Is there no remedy
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