“God’s Will Not Ours Be Done”

     The above were the last words of the president, addressed to his wife. The guilty anarchist is no providential instrument in consummating purposes of righteous dealing, yet in the language of our great executive now fallen in death, we humbly bow; “God’s will be done, not ours.” A thousand and a thousand times more could we hope that Wm. McKinley were spared to the people of this generation that a nation might in its evolution gather to itself the fruits of its toilings. None who understand anything about the history of our country will deny that he was a great man. With cherished hopes for our best future we all regret this sudden and shocking demise. He was honest, we believe, and he sought in his own way to temper and harmonize the feelings of all sections in a manner as to conserve the greatest good. But President McKinley has been smitten down by the hand of a cowardly assassin. The world stands appalled at the terrible tragedy and turns with solicitous eye to the sad scene which hovers over our continent. The American people were proud of his abilities and he will be remembered as the president who guided the nation through its glorious development into a world power. National amity was his ambition and desire, and it is hoped that in this endeavor a lasting good and a universal peace shall become the crowning jewel of the republic. The president’s assassination was for no other cause than that he was the official head of the government. It becomes the government then to down the assassins, drive them out of the country and relieve itself of a band of prowling murderers who lie in wait to take life. The horror of this crime stuns us by its inconceivable baseness. It should be a lasting lesson to the loyal sons of this republic and it should teach them to deal swiftly and promptly with a foe so dangerous to the government. But the end of our great head has come and sorrowing millions mourn the death of him who a few days ago confronted the responsibilities of the greatest government on earth. He attained a distinction that rendered him foremost in the history of republics. Suddenly the career of Wm. McKinley is cut short among the living. His life work is done. His name is given to history and interwoven and commingled with the philosophy of our momentous times. Let it be cherished in blessed memory for the part he has done in furtherance of Christian philanthropy.