New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1902-02-28

Secretary Hay at the Mckinley memorial exer-
cises held by Congress to-day is as follows:
For the third time the Congress Of the United
states are assembled 10 commemorate the life
ard the death Of President slain by the hand
OF an assassin The attention of the future his
torian will be attracted TO the features which
of these awful crimes-the uselessness. the utter
lack of consequence OF the act; the obscurity,
the insignifcance OF the criminal; the blame
lessness-so far as in our sphere of existence the
best OF men may be held blameless-of the vic
tim. Not OF our murdered Presidents had
an enemy in the world they were all OF such
pre-enainent purity Of life that pretext could
be given for the attack Of passional crime; they
were all men Of democratic instincts. who could
never have offended the most Jealous advocates
of equality; they were Of kindly and generous
nature TO whom wrong or injustice was fmpos-
lsi5ie; OF moderate fortune. whose slender means
nobody could envy. They were men OF austere
virtue, Of tender heart, Of eminent abilltes,
(which they had devoted with single minds to the
good Of the republic If ever men walked before
God and man without blame. ii was these three
rulers of our people The only temptation to
attack their lives offered was their gentle ra-
Edisnce-to eyes hating the light that was offence
lenough.
The stupid uselessness of such an infamy az
fronts the common of the world. One
conceive how the death of a dictator may
change the POLITICAL conditions OF empire;
how the extinction Of a narrowing line of kings
may bring in alien dynasty. But in well
ordered republic like the ruler may fall, but
the State feels trernor. Our beloved and
revered leader is gone. but the natural process
OF our laws provides US a successor. Identical in
purpose and ideals nourished by the same
teachings. inspired by the same principles,
pledged by tender affection well as by high
loyalty TO carry to completion the immense task
committed 10 his hands. and TO snite with iron
icriIne which his mild predecessor. with his dying
breath, forgave. The sayings of celestial wis
dom have no date; the words that reach US.
over two thousand years. out Of the darkest
hour of gloom the world has ever known. are
true TO the life to-day. They know not what
they DO" The blow struck at our dear friend
and ruler deadly blind hate could
make 1t, but the blow struck at anarchy was
oeader still.
THE PROBLEM OF ANARCHY.
WHAT world of insolubie problems such an
personal but in its public aspects it presents
paradox not 10 be comprehended. Under a sys-
tenn Of government SO free and so impartial that
we recognize its existence only by its benefac-
lions; under a social order so purely demo-
cratic THAT classes cannot exist in IT, affording
opportunities so universal that even conditions
ere as changing as the winds. where the Iaborer
Of to-day is the capitalist of tomorrow; under
laws which the result of ages of evolution,
uniform and so benefcent that the Presi-
dent has just the same rights and privileges as
the artisan, the same hellish growth Of
hatred and murder which dogs equally the foot
steps Of benevolent nlonarchs and blood stained
despots. How many countries join with
in the community of a kindred sorrowl
will not speak Of those distant regions where
assassination enters into the daily life of gov
eminent But among the nations bound to
by the ties of familiar intercourse-who can
forget that wise and mild autocrat who had
earned the proud title of the Liberator? that
enlightened and magnanlmous citizen whom
France still nouns? that brave and chivalrous
King OF Italy who only lived for his people? and,
saddeet OF all that lovely and Borrowing EN-
press. whose harmless life could hardly have
excited the animosfty Of a demon? Against
that devilish spirit nothing avails-neither
oonscence, nor pity. We cannot even say that
n education IS e sufficient safeguard against this
Y crimes have so shocked humanity in recent
years are men not unlettered who have gone
from the common schools, through murder, to
THE scafold.
Our minds cannot discern the origin, nor con-
ceive the extent Of wickedness so perverse and
80 cruel but this does not exempt US from the
duty OF trying to control and counterfeit It. We
DO not understand what electricity is, whence IL
comes or what it's hidden properties may be.
But know il mighty force for good
evil, and so with the painful toll OF years, men
Of learning and skill have labored to store and
20 subjngate Il, TO neutralize and even to employ
its destructive energies. This problem Of an
erchy is dark and intricate. but IL ought to be
within the compass OF democratic government
although no sane mind can fathom the mys-
teries OF these untracked and orbitless natures
ITO guard against their alterations, TO take
away from them the hope Of escape, the long
luxury Of scandalous days in court. the
wholesome sympathy Of hysterical degenerates.
and SO BY degrees to make the crime not worth
committing, even TO these abnormal and dis
torted souls.
II would be presumptuous for me IN this pres
ence 10 suggest the details Of remedial legisla-
ton for a nal2dy so malignant. That task may
safely be left to the skill and patience of the
unequal to any such emergency. The country
believes that the memory Of three murdered
comrades OF yours-an Of whose voices still haunt
these walls-win be sufficient inspiration TO en-
able you 70 solve even this abstruse and pain
ful problem. which has dimmed so many pages
of history with blood and with tears
Before audience less sympathetic than this
should not dare TO speak of that great career
which We have met TO commemorate But
are all his friends, and friends do not criticise
each others words about open grave.
thank you for the honor you have done me in
inviting me here. and not less for the kind for
bearance know I shall have from you in my
most Inadequate efforts TO speak Of him worth
1y.
TYPICAL AMERICAN LIFE
TIE life OF William Mckinley was, from his
birth 70 his death, typically American. There is
no environment. I should say, anywhere else in
the world which could produce just such char
aeter. he was born into that way of life which
elsewhere Is called the middle class, but which
n this country Is nearly universal as TO make
OF other classes an almost neg3lxfble quantity
Re was neither rich nor poor, neither proud nor
humble; he knew no hunger he was not sure of
satisfying no luxury which could enervate mind
or body His parents were sober God fearing
people, Intelligent and upright, without preten-
sicn ana without humility He grew I'D In the
company Of boys like Observation-Disclosures hon
est, selt-respecting. They looked down on no.
body; they never felt IL possible they could be
looked down upon Their houses were the
homes Of probity, piety, patriotism They
learned IN the admiral BILE school readers of fifty
years ago the lessons Of heroic and splendid Iife
which have come down from the past They
read In their weekly newspapers the story Of
The worlds progress. In which they were eager
10 take part and OF the sins and wrongs of