Publication information |
Source: Alienist and Neurologist Source type: journal Document type: editorial Document title: none Author(s): Hughes, Charles Hamilton Date of publication: October 1901 Volume number: 22 Issue number: 4 Pagination: 720-21 |
Citation |
Hughes, Charles Hamilton. [untitled]. Alienist and Neurologist Oct. 1901 v22n4: pp. 720-21. |
Transcription |
full text |
Keywords |
McKinley assassination (personal response). |
Named persons |
Marcus Hanna; William McKinley. |
Document |
[untitled]
W
Stricken unto death by paranoiac assassin hand,
moved to the dastard deed by inspiration of calumnious speech and villainous
epithets applied under undue license of language, in the fair abused name of
Freedom; “McKinley was the tool of Mark Hanna and Mark Hanna was the agent of
oppressive trusts” said the villainous instigators of this violence, and this
of the people’s executive head, now no longer a partisan but the country’s chosen
chief.
Down the line passed the calumnies which could
not have been said face to face to any citizen without quick retributive resentment,
till a weak misled anarchist takes up the false accusations and transforms the
seditious calumnious words into murderous action. [720][721]
Thus another noble President is martyred, this
time by anarchy’s foul, treacherous heart, while His Excellency is in the kindly
act of a benignant public function. With his cordial hand outstretched and a
benign smile on his good and noble face the President is stealthily shot unto
death by the hand that should have loved and shielded him, for the assassin
was one of the humblest and meanest of men, graciously permitted, as in no other
country, to take the hand of the Nation’s great Governor.
Land of the “free hearts [sic] hope and
home” shall another President of this great Republic be thus wounded to his
death by villainous calumny? Shall murderous Anarchy be instigated and emboldened
again to strike another stealthy blow at this free country’s chief executive
by permitting unbridled villainy of tongue and pen? Liberty demands no such
foul pollution of pen or speech. Statute guarded freedom needs no such license
of language.
The hand of an American president should be clasped
only by patriot people and his fair name should be exempt from calumnious speech
of demagogues. This “government of the people, for the people and by the people”
will live though its presidents are foully slain, but its presidents should
live also.