[untitled]
T Christlike
utterance of our beloved President, “May God forgive him!” which
he spoke when pierced by an assassin’s bullet, will disarm more
Anarchists than all that man’s vengeance or gibbets can deter. That
Divine expression dates from Christ on the cross and has done more
than all wars to tender, redeem and civilize mankind. The winning
power of Him who was so lifted up as to draw all men unto Him, is
still potent, and it is a boon to this generation that the wrath
of man can still praise him in showing to the nation an evidence
of the Spirit of Him who said, “Father forgive them, for they know
not what they do.” President McKinley has not lived in vain if only
to have been brought to the place of such gospel preaching, which
will become again historic.
But how blind sin makes the foolhardy,
who most always find that for every head of a government which they
cut off, another forthwith springs up in its place. Rebels to civil
government because rebels to the word of Divine grace in their hearts,
may they be tendered by some sense of the virtue of Christ’s spirit
as shown in William McKinley’s words, which for all he knew, were
dying words.
We know not the result thus early
in the tidings, but can only wish blessing to our President’s life,
and if that be inevitable, his death.
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