The illustrious life of William McKinley, our martyred president

Front matter

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Preface

The Author of this book had the pleasure and advantage of the personal acquaintance and the honor of friendship and confidence of William McKinley for a quarter of a century, and as a public journalist knew the public men of his State — knew the man McKinley at his homes in Ohio and Washington — knew his friends — he had no enemies - — knew his I'elatious with men and measures, and there was not a blot on the illuminated pages of that open book, his life.

There has been no embarrassment in the work of biography, from the beginning to the completion, save in the surpassing riches of the material testified by clouds of witnesses. It is a life illustrious indeed, without a blemish or a flaw, nothing to avoid, explain or extenuate. His good reputation is the white light of a cloudless sky, no shadow falling to dim the deeds of a day.

The life of William McKinley, twenty-fifth President of the United States, was luminously representative of the better characteristics of Americanism. He was the ninth President re-elected. Washington, Jefferson, Madison, Monroe, Jackson, Lincoln, Grant, Cleveland and McKinley are the names of that list.

The first recorded leadership of McKinley is that he was the foremost boy of his village to leave school and go for a soldier. He entered the first class in the army, that of the enlisted men, and was a man with a gun for fourteen months on his shoulder on the march, and against his shoulder on the fire line.

When the war was over he was a Major, and always a Major with the majority. He is the only enlisted man in our history who served as a private in the ranks for a year and became President.

He earned the promotions he got in war and in peace. From private to President, he secured no advance that was not coming to him. There is no prouder record written on the rolls of glory.

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Table Of Contents

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CHAPTER I. THE ASSASSINATION OF PRESIDENT McKINLEY

Surroundings of McKinley's Birth — His Parentage and Army Experiences — The Murderous Assault at Buffalo — All the World Aroused — Hope of Recovery, but the Wound was Mortal — No Skill or Science Could Save — The Work the President so Loved to do was to be Done no More — He Had Finished His Course — The White House He was not Again to See — It was as by Miracle He Had Been Saved for the Wonderful Testimony of His Death — The Last Hours on Earth 31

Chapter II. The Shadow Of Death

The Parting of the Dying President and His Wife — The Scene of the Death of the President — The Emotion of Senator Hanna — The President's Last Words — The Historical House Where He Died— The Shadows That Fell When Lincoln Fell.. 53

Chapter III. Anarchy— Its History, Influences And Dangers

Leon Czolgosz, the Assassin of the President — The Story He Told of His Movements Previous to the Assassination — The Creed of Assassination — The Cunning Displayed by These Red-Handed Assassins — How the Anarchists Select and Slay Their Victims with Ferocity 66

Chapter IV. Anarchists' Agitation After The Assassination

American Anarchists Assume to be Defiant — Astounding Development of a Political Policy of Assassination — Is a Penal Colony tor Cranks Needed?— A Shocking Array of Incidents — The Canker of Anarchy Displayed 74

Chapter V. Anarchy As A Doctrine

Proposed International Remedy— The Inflammatory'State of the Public Mind— Incidents of a Warning Nature — Senator Depew / the Exposure of Our Presidents

to Extraordinary Risks— The Necessity of Saf', ,uards 100

10 TABLE OF CONTENTS.

Chapter VI

McKinley's Boyhood as Told by His Mother — His Steady Rise to Leadership— How He Studied and Grew Strong— His Early Tariff Speeches— The Law that Bears His Name — The Object-Lesson He Gave the Country in His Journey Across the Continent— A Story of Him as a Boy-Soldier — His Story of His Own Regiment... 108

CHAPTER VII. McKINLEY AND PHIL SHERIDAN

Who Sheridan Found First at the End of His Famous Ride from Winchester to a Lost Battlefield that Was Soon Regained — A Letter From McKinley to Murat Halstead 122

CHAPTER VIII. PRESIDENT McKINLEY AS A CONGRESSMAN

Sixteen Years of "Strenuous Life" in the House — He Worked Hard, Did Not Seek to Push Himself — At Last Became a Leader and Had the Greater Share of Responsibility for the Great Law that Bears His Name — Gerrymandered Out of the House He Had Two Terms of Governor — The Masterly Logic of McKinley in Debating the Tariff Question 131

CHAPTER IX. McKINLEY'S FIRST ADMINISTRATION

The Story of the Glory of McKinley's First Administration — How He Bore the Heat and Burden of the War, as Well as Inspired the Confidence of the Country and Prepared the Boon of Its Prosperity 140

Chapter X. The High-water Mark Of American Prosperity

McKinley's Administration Attained It — Let It Be the Policy of All to Maintain It — The Apotheosis of Our Martyr President is Instantaneous — He is Already Engraved Upon the Hearts of the People Above Party Strife— Character Study of Garfield and McKinley— The Peacefully Glorious Death of the President Will Be Immortal — The Power of Publicity 154

Chapter XI. The Second Nomination Of The Third Martyr President For The

PRESIDENCY.

The Republican National Convention of 1900— McKinley's Nomination Seconded by Theodore Roosevelt — His Eloquent Words on that Memorable Occasion— Senator Depew's Address One of the Features of the Convention 160

MKS. McKINLEY— WIDOW OF THE PRESIDENT.

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THEODOEE ROOSEVELT, PRESIDENT OF UNITED STATES

Theodore Roosevelt, recent Vice-President of the United States, has an ancestry going bacli to medieval times in Dutch history. He had served as a New Yorlf Assemblyman, a National Civil Service Commissioner and Police Commissioner for the City of New York, and at the breaking out of the Spanish War was Assistant Secretary of the Navy. He resigned at once and saw service with the Rough Riders in Cuba He was elected Governor of New York in 189S, and won with President McKinley in the campaign of 1900. He is the author of several works of a historical nature.

TABLE OF CONTENTS. 13

Chapter XII. The Campaign Op 1900

McKinley's Ohio Home — His Notification at Canton of His Nomination for a Second Term of the Presidency — The Significance and Scenery of the Event — The Twenty-fifth President's Speech Accepting His Second Nomination and Reviewing the Promises His Administration Redeemed 172

CHAPTER XVI. McKINLEY'S FAREWELL ADDRESS

Opens with Courteous Expressions to Foreign Representatives— Praises the Exposition — The Beneficent Use of the Telegraph in Peace and War— A Word for Reciprocal Treaties— A Plea for the Isthmian Canal and a Pacific Cable 221

CHAPTER XVII. PRESIDENT McKINLEY'S FUNERAL AT BUFFALO, WASHINGTON AND CANTON

The Last View of the Martyr President's Face— Pathetic Scenes of Sorrow— The Simple Solemnities at Buffalo and the Tremendous Outpourings of People — A Somber Day at Washington— The Farewell to President McKinley at Canton 229

CHAPTER XVIII. SPLENDID TRIBUTES TO McKINLEY

Orations by Men of the Highest Distinction— Rarely has Eulogy been so Superb, Sincere, or so Eloquent over the Grave of any Man— The Universal Acclaim is that Never were Affection and Admiration More Worthily Bestowed 253

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Chapter XIX

THE VOICE OF THE CLERGY ON THE MARTYRDOM OF McKINLEY.

An Unexampled Union in Prayers and Sermons from All Christian Denominations, First that the Precious Life of the President Might Be Preserved, and that Hope Lost that the Lessons of His Life Might Live, and the Lessons of His Death Be an Everlasting Benediction to Mankind 272

Chapter XX. The Sympathy Op The Nations

Heartfelt Expressions of Sorrow on the Assassination of President McKinley — The Third of the Chief Magistrates of the United States to Be Shot Down— Remarkable Expressions of Regrets and Regards from All Parts of the World 290

Chapter XXI. Two Of Our Presidential Tragedies

The Mortal Wounds of Garfield and McKinley Scientifically Compared— The Case Professionally Considered and a Most Interesting Study Made of the Medical Mysteries Attending the Death of the Two Latest Presidents Elected from Ohio.. 311

Chapter XXII. The President And The Treaty With Spain

The Inside History of the Paris Negotiation as Told in the Confidential "Cables" — Chiefly Those of the President From Which the Injunction of Secrecy Was Only Removed in January Last — This, Until Lately Secret History, Gives the Best Expression of the Methods of the President and His Character that Anywhere Exists — It is Most Creditable and Gives a Perfectly Authentic Measure of the Man — How McKinley in Public Policy Was the Rock, While Those Against Him Were as the Waves ., 330

CHAPTER XXIII. THE CHRISTIAN CHARACTER OP PRESIDENT McKINLEY

His Dying Recognition of "God's Way" — The Death of Mr. McKinley an Impressive Testimony — The Poetry About the Tragedy — The Keynote of Paith in Life — Dr. Talmage on McKinley's Religious Character 370

Chapter XXIV. Recollections Of The Three Martyr Presidents

The Way the News Came of the Assassination of Lincoln, Garfield and McKinley, Who Will Be Forever Known and Honored Because They Died by the Hands of Miscreants for the Cause of the Country — Pencillings by the Way, of Lincoln, Garfield and McKinley 402

TABLE OF CONTENTS. 15

Chapter XXV. Scenes, Incidents And Anecdotes

Illustrative of the Life of President McKinley and Its Associations— When McKinley Challenged the Vote of Ohio — A Picture Gallery of His Youth — His Conversion — Courtship— How He Was Attentive to His Wife— His Methodism— The Town in Which He Was a Boy— President McKinley's Will— The McKinley Farm Near Canton — McKinley as a Handshaker 415

Chapter XXVI. The Twenty-sixth President Op The United States

His First Official Act — His Earliest Transactions Gave Universal Confidence — In all Respects He Makes a Good Impression — He has in all His Ways Been Approved And all the People Hopefully and Confidently Wish Him Well — His Great Minneapolis Speech on September 2d 433

Chapter XXVII. The Assassin's Trial And Sentence To Death

The Dignity of the Proceedings— The Testimony Taken Under Oath of Great Interest — The Trial Brought Out the Wretched Weakness of the Miscreant Murderer^ He Played His Ghastly Part In a Cringing Way, and Made a Most Miserable Show of Himself — His Cowardly Collapse When He Arrived at the Prison and Found tlfe Way He Stood with the People — Scenes of His Trial and Sentence 44S

®ttrowolo0tj

BORN NILES, OHIO, JANUARY 29, 1843.

SCHOOL-TEACHER, POLAND, OHIO, 1860.

ENLISTED UNION ARMY JUNE, 1861.

SECOND LIEUTENANT SEPTEMBER 24. 1862.

FIRST LIEUTENANT FEBRUARY 7. 1863.

CAPTAIN JULY 25, 1864.

BREVET MAJOR FOR GALLANTRY, 1865.

ADMITTED TO THE OHIO BAR 1867.

ELECTED STATE'S ATTORNEY 1869.

ELECTED FIRST TO CONGRESS 1876.

ELECTED GOVERNOR OF OHIO 1891.

RE-ELECTED GOVERNOR OF OHIO 1893.

ELECTED PRESIDENT UNITED STATES 1896.

RE-ELECTED PRESIDENT UNITED STATES 1900.

SHOT BY AN ASSASSIN SEPTEMBER 6, 1901.

DIED BUFFALO, N. Y., SEPTEMBER 14, 1901.

ILLUSTRATIONS.

PAGE.

Portrait — Last Picture of President McKinley 3

Portrait — The Favorite Picture of President McKixley 4

Portrait — Mrs. McKinley 11

Portrait — Theodore Roose\'elt, President of the United States 12

Portrait — President McKinley and His Cabinet at Time of His Assassination . . 21

Portrait — Murat Halstead 22

Drawing — Assassination of President McKinley 39

Drawing — President McKinley's Farewell to His Wife 40

Portrait — Leon Czolgosz, Who Shot President McKinley' 57

Diagram Showing Points Where the Bullets Entered Body of President

McKinley 58

Assassin Czolgosz' Derringer 58

Foster and Ireland 75

Portrait — Emjia Goldman 76

Portrait — James B. Parker 76

Portrait — John G. Milburn 93

Portrait — George B. Cortelyou 93

Portrait — Dr. P. M. Rixey 93

Portrait — Miss Grace Mackenzie 93

Residence of President Milburn of the Pan-American Exposition. Buffalo 94

Milburn Mansion (Rear) 94

McKinley Homesstead, Canton, Ohio Ill

Temple of Music, Buffalo, N. Y HI

Drawing — Time to Dr.vw and Strike 112

Drawing — ^All Nations Mourn President McKinley's Untimely Death 112

Portraits — Three Pre.sidents Who Have Fallen Victims to Assassins' Bullets.. 129

Portrait — Abraham Lincoln, Assassinated in 1865 130

The Martyred Lincoln and His War Cabinet Reading the Emancipation

PkocA^ma'^ion 147

Drawing — T^^ie Assassination of President Lincoln 148

Drawing — The Escape of the Assassin and the Panic of the Audience...! ... 148

Drawing — Death-Bed Scene op President Lincoln | ... 165

ViEwiNo Lincoln's Remains | . , ^.66

18 ILLUSTRATIONS.

PAGE.

PoKTEAiT — James Abeam Garfield, Assassinated 1881 183

The National Capitol at Washington 184

Portrait — William McKinley, Father of President McKinlet 201

Portrait — Mrs. William McKinley, Mother of the President 201

Birthplace of William McKinley, Niles, Ohio 202

Catafalque in the National Capitol Used for the Third Time for a Stricken

President 202

Ida Saxton, Mrs. William McKinley (Four Views) 219

William McKinley in Younger Days (Four Views) 220

Portrait — Philip H. Sheridan 237

Mr. and Mrs. McKinley Twenty Years Ago 238

William McKinley as a Farmer 238

President McKinley at Home 255

Mr. and Mrs. William McKinley Out Driving 255

William McKinley, Wife and Mother 256

William McKinley as an Orator 273

President McKinley Taking Oath of Office 274

President McKinley and His War Cabinet of 1898 291

The United States Senate Voting the $50,000,000 Spanish War Appropriation... 292

The First M. E. Church, Canton, Ohio 309

President McKinley's Transcontinental Trip 309

Funeral Train Removing President McKinley's Body From Buffalo to Capitol.. 310 President McKinley's Funeral Cortege On the Way to the Capitol at Washington 310

The Executive Mansion (White House) Washington 327

East Room of the White House 328

The McKinley Family Plat, Westlawn Cemetery, Canton, Ohio 345

Vault in Cemetery, Canton, Ohio 345

Drawing — Entering the Hall of Martyrs 346

President Roosevelt and Family 363

Wilcox Mansion, Buffalo < 364

Library of the Wilcox Mansion, Buffalo 364

President Roosevelt Taking Oath of Office 381

Temporary Residence of President Roosevelt, Washington 382

CzoLGOSz Listening to the Jury's Verdict of Guilty 382

Thomas Penney 399

Casket Covered With Floral Offerings Borne Up the Steps of the Capitol at

Washington ■. 400

Introduction

A rapacity for notoriety seems to be the common characteristic of the murderers of our Presidents. They have slaughtered three of the noblest and tenderest and most generous of men, and it is not certain but the consuming passion of all the bloody miscreants was vanity. Among the assassins of our martyred Presidents the one who was in the greater degree insane was Booth. He had no grievance except that of sentiment. He knew nothing of politics, but was for the section in which he was born. He was not a lunatic, but a madman. He was not at any time a combatant. Among the fighting men North and South was found first, when the war ended, the spirit of conciliation and generosity. They felt that the soldiers arrayed against each other were, after all, countrymen, and their destiny was to live together in their Father's house, that as the war was over, all the soldiers who had been in it should get together as "comrades." There was no rancor in personalities among the heroes of the contending armies. The splendid chapter of history made at "Appomattox" illustrates this, and the heroes who surrendered so honorably were twice vanquished, first by arms and then by kindness. The words current in the States of the fallen Confederacy were that "the South lost her best friend when Lincoln was killed," and will remain the true, settled feeling of those who saw too late the tenderness of the heart of the President and the wisdom of his good will "with malice toward none, charity for all." The first martyred President was the victim of a vengeful folly and fury without understanding, and the loss to the whole country of the life put out in a frenzy was incalculable and everlasting. The wound is not healed and the scar can not be effaced.

The murderer of President Garfield was a most ignoble creature, who distinctly belonged to the criminal class. The man was a strange mixture of vindictive vanity and vicious incapacity. He was of the most insignificant class of office seekers, especially persistent as well as ludicrous until he became a horror. His anxiety to be rewarded for services that were a part of his infuriate malady grew upon him. His despondency became malicious. He was a hissing serpent in the weeds. His idea of the public service and politician was embodied in the theory, after he had murdered the President, that he could dei}end upon others who were disappointed in the distribution of offices to sustain him in his policy of "removal."

There were those who antagonized Garfield in respect to the distribution of patronage (indeed, far the greater number of the faultfinders,) who had nothing in common with the assassin, but a powerful impression that they were called upon to give command and that disobedience vas unfaithfulness. The life of President Garfield, before he was shot in the back, to linger from July to September, was troubled by assaults contemptible in origin and purpose. They were meant to annoy and threaten. A campaign of viciousness was opened. There were shots as from an ambush spitting from newspapers, because the President did not admit that his high office was held by a personal servant. After he had exerted himself to make peace subject to the maintenance of his dignity, he was aroused to assert himself without regard to antagonisms. The deluded assassin, through his trial, sought to appear as one who could claim as friends the critics of Garfield. He assumed they had been with him in feeling; that they sympathized with his selfishness and with the infamous origin of the invented grief that made him a murderer.

Booth strode across the stage after entering Lincoln's box, and attitudinized crying "Sic semper tyrannis." There was a great army, but no sentinel, policemen or detective to guard Lincoln — it was held impossible that the President should be assassinated. Booth was hunted down and shot in a burning barn. He died deserted and in torture.

Guiteau was displayed as the most deplorable and desperate wretch who, historically striking down a great man, was hanged by the neck with the utmost ignominy. He was the most loathsome reptile that ever ended a noble life, and made the word "removal" a synonym for murder.

President McKinley, the kindliest of men, a hero equipped with all the generosities of manliness, whose titles to public respect and high regard were the most excellent of his era — a man who as a boy carried a musketintheranks of the army of his country, and was fearless as he was gentle, for "the bravest are the tenderest, the loving are the daring" — is the third President assailed by an assassin! One of the foremost men of all this world, winning not alone the applause of our own people, but

PRESIDENT Mckinley and his cabinet at time of his assassination.

HON. LYMAN J. GAGE.

See'y of the Treasury.

HON. JOHN D. LONG.

Sec'v of th<' Navy.

HON. .lAMES WILSON.

!5ee"y of .\j!riciilture.

HON. CHARLKS EMORY SMITH,

Postinftster-drenernV

PRESIDENT MrKINLEY.

-ATTORNEY (iKSKK A I, KNOX.

MdN. .lOHN HAY.

Sec'v of State, HON. EI. III!" ROOT.

s.-e V of Wii r, HON, ETHAN ALLEN HITCHCOCK,

Sec'y of Interior,

MURAT HAISTEAD

Mr Murat HalsteacJ. author of this book, was a personal friend of William m,r q^itL »°."S i"",,,'""',^ "'™^'° Congress: a war correspontlent in the wa " our States, and in the Franco-German war. He has been an industrious writtr for newspapers and of books for fifty-two years. "'"uo wmti lor from all the enlightened nations — one whose rare, high fortune it was to see the principles of public policy he had advocated as a young member of Congress made the law of the land under his leadership — vindicated by the unparalleled prosperity of the people, was the shining mark of organized murder. His steadfast sagacity, armed with the constitutional authority of the presidency of expanding America, including positions to command the greatest of the oceans of the globe — victorious in a wonderful war which was hastened to an early close by an unbroken succession of the triumphs of arms and of diplomacy — made the peace splendid as it was speedy — the humane war was crowded with conquest and covered with glory, but he incurred the hatefulness of the petty and the morose.

This man, re-elected President of the United States honorably, with great majorities in the electoral college and the votes of the people — the event significant of peacefulness and of plenty in the land and the victories of peace not less renowned than those of war beyond the seas — this man who made the workingmen of America conquerors in their own right in the markets of the world — this man of the people, armed with all the graces of candor, confiding in the people as they in him, improved the first chance of leisure in an Administration as strenuous as successful. He crossed the continent from our ocean boundary on the east to the one on the west, going from Washington through the Southern cities to San Francisco, his movement a triumphal procession that will be memorable for the reciprocity of good wishes and the happiness of better acquaintance. This was an obvious and admirable demonstration of peace and prosperity and power in its plenitude. Though half of the programme was omitted because the President's wife became ill, yet the journey was strikingly successful, for the pageantry so simple was yet effective in its simplicity. It was through the heart of the South and touched the shore of the Pacific, the ocean of our archipelagoes in the greatest body of water the earth affords — including as our possessions groups of islands from Siberia to the tropics and the Hawaiian paradise and citadel of the South Sea. Through this thoughtful progress, one of music and waving banners, he was greeted by shouting millions from Old Virginia to the Golden Gate.

There was silence and restraint returning, that the President's wife might be wafted to her home in quiet and make him happy by her recovery. This seemed to leave something undone by the President that he had promised the people — and as bis immense labors in good works were so far advanced, the country so brimming with the bounties of the American soil and American skilled labor — the wheatfields golden, the shops rich in orders — even a great altrike going on in bitter earnest yet in peace and order, a combat of principle and enlightenment as to the rules and regulations, the lines and precepts of the division of the shares of labor and capital — the President and his wife, away from the affairs of state, rested in their old home in Canton, Ohio, spending there months in a delightful vacation. This grateful repose was in the very house in which William McKinley, the young attorney, and his bride lived in the days of their youth, and there in the summer time they lived over the days of long ago. There Mrs. McKinley almost realized the fondest dream of her latest years, as she often expressed it to those near and dear to her — that of her husband living in their own precious home for her — the cares of greatofficeput aside; she tenderly would have them put far away forever. She wanted the time to come when her husband should belong to her, and not to the world. The dream had been of the time when the President, the Governor of Ohio, the Congressman, should be a private citizen, and she a"nd he be as they were when young and lived in Canton.

She did not imagine her delicate form, her weakness that was so strong in love, could outlast or leave the strong man, ever so loyally, so helpfully by her side. The house in Canton was doubly dear because, as the President took pleasure in saying, it was a present from his wife's father and that endeared it to them. Not only was there for them no place like home, but no home like that. It was from this charmed spot that at what seemed a call of duty they made the journey to Buffalo, which was to prove so memorable and so sorrowful.

It is said that Abraham Lincoln on the night the assassin killed him, chatted with his wife in the box at the theater where they sat together hardly conscious of the passing play, and discussed plans, for the country was to have peace, and they were interested with each other for they had not been able to think of their own future. The promise of peace to them was especially blessed, and the talk of Lincoln then and there was of going to Jerusalem. It is pathetic, that this seems to have been the last thought in the long burdened brain before the murderer's pistol was fired; his head fell on his bosom and there was for him "Jerusalem, the Golden."

On the next to the last night that Garfield spent in the White House before the murderer fired into his back and he was tortured to his death, he was asked by a friend how he was in health, for he had not been well for some weeks and there were considerable anxieties in that respect about him. He answered cheerfully, with that grand boyish sense of enjoyment that distinguished him in a pleasing mood, that he was much better, indeed quite well. He had been ill, he said, and the unpleasant controversy that had clung to him, was fatiguing, and he was weary, when suddenly came Mrs. Garfield's illness, and his mind, instead of being engaged with his own affairs that were diflicult enough to command consideration, was absorbed with his wife's illness, that was grave enough to give cause for deep concern, and in doing so forgot himself. He said that he ceased to think of the back of his head or the top of it or the action of the heart and the worries over the ceaseless clamors about the appointments; all this was ended, like a storm blown over, and when Mrs. Garfield grew better and could go to the seaside to await his leisure for a trip to New England he found that he was quite well, and said that when ill it was the best medicine to be called away from thinking of one's self.

It will be remembered that on the 2nd of July he was shot in the morning as he was starting to go to Williams College, Western Massachusetts, and the conversation we quote was on the last night of June, and ended a few minutes before midnight.

At that time President Garfield was buoyant and invited a friend to go with him to his old college scenes. He said, "Come, go; it is the sweetest place in the world."

When the fatal shot was fired he was on the way to take the special train prepared for him and his Cabinet and was to meet his wife in her charm of convalescence at Elberon and go on to dine that night with Cyrus Field at his home on the Hudson; and he was to proceed next day to the College. At that hour Garfield felt himself as never before, truly the President of the United States, and the grandeur of his duty gave him for the first and last time a sense of elation.

He regarded his greater trials as over. He was ready to meet opponents as friends. Having declared independence he was solicitous for conciliation. He felt he had the power to make peace with honor; that he was going to see his old friends at a College Commencement that would be to him one of the most enjoyable reunions of his life. While the ghastly little fiend about to murder him was crouching behind the door at the depot with bulldog pistol ready, the President was driving with Mr. Blaine from the White House, and they spoke of the freshness of the morning air.

The third of our Presidents ambushed for martyrdom, went with Mrs. McKinley to face Fate under the gilded dome of the Pan-American Exposition where the drama of assassination had been rehearsed. The couple were drawn from their home retirement to an outing — a festivity; it was part of the entertainment to see the great Pan-American display, that indeed of a Congress of Nations so instructive as a collection of object lessons; and it was part of the superb entertainment planned to hear the ever solemn music of Niagara.

It has been said innumerable times in respect to the vast majority of the people who come to us from Europe that they are not the less American because born abroad, that indeed they are more than welcome to come to our country and find homes and the happiness of laborious and thrifty lives on our expanding lands; that we should not forget that people who come to us express in doing so a preference for the country that is commendable in spirit, while native Americans have no choice about it and should be careful in claiming superior merits for an involuntary situation. It is time to classify the anarchist as an outsider, an invader. He is a man who has no country and redhanded against all men not of the school of murder.

He feeds on false and foolish phrases, and though he may be born on this soil he is not an American. In the case of the assailant of President McKinley, he is the product of the worst of foreignism, though he was born in one of the cities on the Lakes; he comes of the despotism of Russia and the oppression of Poland and is as alien in his nature as in his nomenclature. It is worth thinking about as a dispensation that no American can pronounce his infamous name.

The hostile spirit that this damnable assassin displayed against the one he called the "Great Ruler," as if it were a burning wrong to perform great functions, and a wrong demanding punishment of death to be inflicted by stealth. This litany of the Devil was taught by the wicked demagogy that is formidable in this country and seeks to classify people and incite classes to hostilities— that preaches anew the ancient impracticabilities of a so-called Socialism that is tenacious because it feeds on ignorance and the rankling poisons that envenom reptiles. The latest Presidential assassin should not be allowed to pose as a hero, or come in contact with ttiose of his kind that they may be sympathetic and hatch more snakes' eggs. He is a murderer by profession and confession. He should be treated with humanity but with severity, and the more absolute solitude he has the better, with the exception of the sentinel's guard who sees that he does not console himself with self-destruction. It may be well to detain him a while for the use that may be made of him as an example.