Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1912-10-15

Must public men in the United States be
forever. at the mercy of any lunatic who
happens to develop homicidal mania!
Mr.. Roosevelt was shot at Milwaukee last
night, but fortunately the wound is not
likely to prove fatal. Nevertheless. the
man shot to kill, and had he real.7cd his
expectations Mr.. Roosevelt would : be
dead. Only two years ago Mayor q .Enor
was shot as he was preparing to leave for
Europe. and although he recovered he
still carries the assassin bullet in his
throat. What happened to Mr.. Roosevelt
yesterday may happen to Mr. Taft today
or to Mr.. Wilson tomorrow, or even TO
Mr.. Debs the day after tomorrow. Gov
eminent and society alike seem power
public men and public officials in this
country. Mr.. Roosevelt himself has al
ways regarded assassination or attempted
assassination as one of the trade risks
of American public life, and there is
probably no means of making it other
wise. Public officials and candidates can
not very well be surrounded by body
Lguards like European monarch. Neither
can they maintain remote and isolated
existence from their fellow-citizens. Pub
lie questions must be discussed. public is
sues must be threshed out, and whatever
danger follows must inevitably be as
sumed. Nevertheless. it ought to be pos
sible to keep crazy men out of shooting
President. 1t ought to be possible to fur
nish enough police protection to enable the
United States to conduct a presidential
campaign without the possibility Of as
SaSsinatiOn.
Sympathy With Roosevelt.
From the New York Herald.
No bitterness of political discussion in
this country can prevent deep regret and
hn.a rfx nv QnY1 RI m
ponent to whom murderouS violence Is
offered That will be the general atti-
tude of the entire country regarding the
attempt made by dangerous lunatic- at
dore Roosevelt. The display of nerve in
the circumstances was chara cteristic Of
the man. 1t is conso ing that he who
fired the shots was far more irresponsible
ly Isl 1t to be hoped that he who is lead
ing the third party Is not seriously
wounded and that the issue of the cam
paign will be fought to its inevitable con-
clusion without being changed in its
course by the act of mailman.
Madman's Act.
From the New York Sun.
The Sun rejoices that the bullet fired
by a mad-brained man of the Go gosz
type at Col. Roosevelt did not find a
fatal Judgment. While We differ with
Col. Roosevelt in his policies. his sud-
den taking off would be national calam-
ity, and with the entire nation We pray
for his speedy recovery.
Crime Against Nation.
From the New York American.
Every American will rejoice from the
bottom of his heart If the weirdly wicked
attempt on the life of Theodore Roose-
welt. at Milwaukee last night. does no
morale harm, alas! was done when the
demented fend fired the shot. The harm
was not alone to the illustrious man. of
whose career this and future generations
of Americans will be proud. The crime
was against the republic, against all de-
mocracy. Every American citizen may de-
voutly thank God that ex-President
Roosevelt escaped an untimey death.
and, praying for his speedy recovery, will
ferventiy hope that the foul and infamous
crime of political assassination may be
blotted from the fevered brains of fren-
zied partisans, and from the annals of
this great republic.
Rejoice That Roosevelt Lives.
From the Baltimore American.
The American people rejoice that Theo-
dore Roosevelt was spared last night
from the assassin. From par erS found
upon his assailant it would appear that
the man is of unsound mind. None other.
indeed. could be guilty of so heinous
crime. That his attempt was not sue
cessful Is reason for universal gratifica-
ton. for grief would have been world
wide had bullet brought to so trag'c q
close the brilliant career of Theodore
Roosevelt. The assassin has no place in
the American commonwealth. Neither
statute nor sentiment sanctions the ad-
justment of grievance with the pistol.
The murderer receives short shr:ft and
the man whose disordered intellect impels
him to attempt the life of an individual
engaged in work of pubic service in
the belief that he is promoting some COM
mon good. can expect no mercy from the
law or outraged opinion.
The Country Thankful.
From the Baltimore Sun.
The first shock of horror at the at
tempt to assassinate Mr.. Roosevelt will
be followed by a glow of thankfulness
that HE life has been SHARED He 4. ono