The Buffalo Tragedy

     The whole world unites with the people of the United States in horror and detestation of the abominable crime perpetrated at Buffalo, on Friday last, when President McKinley was shot down by a crazy anarchist. It was an outrage on civilization, due directly to the foul influence of the irreligious, atheistic spirit and teaching of the day. If men will ignore fundamental principles of morality and good order, such things must be the consequence. Mr. McKinley’s personal characteristics have won him the respect and esteem of his fellow citizens. He should have no enemy in all this broad land; and the dastardly treason that dared to direct any man’s weapon against the President of the Republic should be punished with the utmost rigor of the law for capital crimes. If the present law does not reach the culprit it should be changed. Liberty does not and never did mean license. These so-called anarchists have too long abused the freedom of our constitutional privileges. The scum of decaying European feudalism, they must be taught that there is no place for them among our free institutions and law-abiding citizens. They are enemies of public order, and must be banished from the society of the freemen they contaminate even by their presence. Toleration of their vile creed has emboldened them to presume on the patience of the nation. The hour for their total extirpation has come.
     Meanwhile, all good citizens will unite in prayer that Divine Providence may spare the life of the President, and that the Republic, chastened by this renewed trial, may come out of it with greater strength for the destinies that we are to fill out in the progress of the nations of the world.