Our Dead President

     What a calamity has befallen our Country in the assassination of President William McKinley. Never before in the history of this Republic has the Country been in a more prosperous condition. It was through his instrumentality and wise statemanship that the Country is in such a progressive condition. If President McKinley had injured any one or any nation of people, perhaps then there would be extenuating circumstances in meeting [sic] out the law to the assassin. President McKinley’s life has been an open book; his every act has been in defense of right and justice and he has won the admiration and the plaudits of this civilized world. Why then should a ruler of our Republic be shot down by an anarchist? Is there to be no protection extended to the Chief Magistrate of the Nation? Is there to be no protection to a man who has been elected by the people? President McKinley was a man with a broad mind and a liberal heart. He was kind and gentle; a good husband and an affectionate father. His aim was to please all the people and unite the two great sections, the North and South. He also hoped to see the Negro prosper. He had great faith in the sincerity of the Negro to make himself a good citizen. In the midst of a prosperous and progressive Republic, the life of President McKinley was brought to a close by the assassin’s bullet. There is no Nation that has expressed greater sorrow for the dead Chieftain than the American people.

“But sorrow never could revive the dead.
So we weep, because we weep in vain.”