President McKinley

Assassinated, 6th September, 1901.

Oh, deed of wanton infamy and shame!
Flinging a sudden shiver thro’ the world;
Falling undreamt-of—as a serpent curl’d
In th’ unwarn’d victim’s path to kill or maim
Suddenly strikes: curst be the very name
Of him thy doer! he, to torment hurl’d!
O God of Justice, why must thus be furl’d
The stainless banner of a perfect fame?
Let us not question that God knoweth best
Man’s needs: we see His working but begun,
And are amazed—doubt not in timely sun
The seed will grow, tho’ deep in earth ’tis presst.
Murder’d, he said, “His will, not ours, be done”—
And martyr’d, gain’d the guerdon of God’s rest.