The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1902-03-04
COUNTRY'S DUTY Is
TO PREVENT CRIME.
Assassinations in America Outnum.
ber Those i'm Europe--Judge Colts
Address Before New Hampshire
Bar Association.

The annual meeting of the New Hamp-
shire bar association was held at Con-
cord. y. H.. yesterday afternoon and the
principal address was by Judge Le Baron
Il. Colt OF the United States court and a
resident Of this city. lie spoke upon AN
archy in It's Relations 60 This Nation.
His address. which was a notable one is
in part as follows:
.'In 81 years three presidents have been
assassnated an average or one assassin
alton every 12 years. The world VIII sure
ly hesitate 10 initiate our example OF a
free democracy II this record be long con-
tinued The history OF Europe for 1000
years furnished no parallel. To find one
we must go back 10 the military usurpers
OF ancient Rome.
During these comparatively few years
the assassinations OF our chief magis-
trates have equaled. II not exceeded those
OF the rulers OF England since the Nor
man conquest In 1866 and OF France our
ing the last ten centuries. No king OF
England has been assassinated for more
than 400 years, and but one ruler OF
France IN nearly three centuries.
During the life OF the federal govern
nent n period OF 1l3 years, no ruler OF
England, Germany or Spain has suffered
death by violence. France, Italy and Aus
tim. while Russia records but two in
stances.
This comparison becomes the more
amazing when we consider that tyranni-
eide, regicide and religious fanaticism
were among the principal causes which
have led 10 the assassination of European
rulers. and that these causes have not eX-
listed here. Nor Is this striking contrast
to be explained by reference 10 latter-day
anarchism. for. at most, only one of the
four attempts upon the lives OF our presi-
dents can be traced TO that cause.
FAITH IN PEOPLE no PLEA.
I'VE can no longer plead In justification
our supreme faith I'm free people and
democratic Institutions as shield
against such attacks, nor our belief that
no one could be found 20 strike down the
citizen chosen by the will OF the people
10 administer their own laws by acting
for a short time as their chief magistrate.
Nor can we plead that we could COM
prehend the assassination OF the czar of
Russia because he was the state, or the
assassination OF the king OF Italy because
he was born king, or the assassination OF
any ruler where justice was denied the
people and irreparable political and social
grievances existed; but that IL was inn
possible for us to imagine how any hu-
man being should wish 10 murder Lin
coin. or Garfield. or Mckinley, who
sprang from the people. whose lives were
consecrated to the happiness and well-be-
ing. and who died holy victims sacrificed
on the altar OF liberty
I'VE must now acknowledge our ex-
perienoe has shown that the freest gov
ernment. administered by the most ex-
sited characters, is not exempt from this
form OF assassination.
AssAssINATIoNs AND ATTEMPTS.
This phenomenon must be accounted
for in some way. There must be a cause
lying hidden somewhere. Let us con-
trast the successful and unsuccessful at
tcmpts upon the lives OF our chief mag
istrates with the successful and unsuc-
cessful attempts upon the lives OF for
eign rulers and see IL some light Is not
thrown upon the subject.
For IL II should turn out to be true
that the attempts To kill our chief mag
istratcs have been far less frequent than
the attempts to kill the rulers OF other
civilized nations, and that our trouble
il owing TO the success OF the attempts
and not to their number. we are on the
road TO the discovery of the true cause
of the anomalous situation OF this coun-
try respecting these political crimes"
Judge Colt here entered upon a detailed
analysis of the attempts upon the lives
OF European sovereigns comparing their
success with tho attempts I'm America
summarizing as follows
"Of the four attempts 10 assassinat,
the presidents OF the United States sine,
the foundation of the government i'm 1850
three have been successful. or 20 per cent
of the 55 attempts TO assassinate the rul
ers Of Europe in the countries above men
tion since 1883. only five have been sue
cessful or about per cent.
''Since 1860. OF the three attempts TO as
sassinate the presidents OF the Unite,
States three have been successful, or 10
per cent; of the q attempts TO assasslnat
the rulers of Europe I'm the countrie
above mentioned. only four have beel
successful. or 10 per cent.
lack or sATEGCARps
Following This line OF inquiry into som
OF the details of tho. four attempts upo
the lives of our chief magistrate. ID wi
De found thai three We're successful OWN
10 the absence of reasonable safeguards
and that the fourth would have bee
equally fatal had not the weapons msse
fire from some almost miraculous caus,
The would-be assassin OF Presiden
Jackson was permitted 20 approach {
within few feet Of his person. and do
liberately attempted 10 discharge tw
pistols; the assassin OF President Llncol
entered the theatre box where the pres