Publication information |
Source: Little Falls Herald Source type: newspaper Document type: editorial Document title: none Author(s): anonymous City of publication: Little Falls, Minnesota Date of publication: 27 September 1901 Volume number: 13 Issue number: 31 Pagination: [4] |
Citation |
[untitled]. Little Falls Herald 27 Sept. 1901 v13n31: p. [4]. |
Transcription |
full text |
Keywords |
McKinley assassination (public response: criticism); the press (criticism). |
Named persons |
William Jennings Bryan; William McKinley. |
Document |
[untitled]
If the wishes of some newspapers and some ministers, were to be carried out, the death of an American chief executive would be entirely a partisan matter, to be considered a partisan question. We are glad to say that no democrat has been guilty of such an un-American suggestion. Men who earnestly and strongly opposed McKinley’s policies had a right to express that opposition. That is a part of the American system of government. In the heat of a fierce campaign, it is likely that both sides go to extremes. We do not see that the republican press is a particle less guilty than the press of the other side. When Bryan was pictured as a clown leading an army of fools; when we were told that the democrats stood for dishonesty; when we heard that millions of Americans were traitors and guilty of treason because they differed from the administration; when it was asserted that only rebels, ignoramuses, despoilers, followed Bryan, who was called the hypocritical tool of silver miners; when the honesty and motives of the democratic leader were constantly impugned; when the Minneapolis Journal and Pioneer Press published cartoons as scurrilous and insulting as any “yellow journalism” gave birth to; when fanatical preachers thundered from their pulpits that the doctrines of Bryan were contrary to Christianity—is it then a wonder that there were not reprisals on the other side? This is what makes it disgusting to hear the sanctimonious Pharisee utterances coming from some of the republican press at this time and from the pulpit also. These extremists are belittling the memory of the lamented president by their insane talk.