THE ATTEMPTED ASSASSINATION.

Gisborne Times, Volume VI, Issue 209, 10 September 1901, Page 3

THE ATTEMPTED ASSASSINATION.

SYMPATHY IX AUCKLAND.

SPLENDID ARTICLES IN AUCKLAND JOURNALS. j Special to Times. | Auckland, last night. The dreadful news of the attack on the life of the President of the United States has caused a thrill of horror in Auckland. Everywhere it was the subject of conversation, and at all public gatherings sympathetic reference is made to the sad occurrence. The articles in the Auckland

journals dealing with the subject have been of exceptional merit, and I am sure will be read with great interest by the people of Gisborne. THE STAR.

The Star, in a leading article referring to the shooting of McKinley, says: What do half mad, wholly depraved,

brutal scoundrels who sanction such a

deed as this hope to achieve by it'? Here is a man of Polish parentage, whose family have found, a home with freedom and all rights of citizenship, in a country which has opened wide her portals to the oppressed of all the earth. If the Emperor of Russia had fallen by his hand wc might have understood the act, because there are concentrated in the person of the Czar the elements of a despotism beneath which neither the iifo nor liberty of any man is sate, hut the President of America represents the power of a peoplo who stand equal under the national constitution. lie rules by their will alone; that only for a short period which compels his appearance before them to give an account of his stewardship. Such j a crime is therefore an assault on the i popular government. It is the declaration j of war against all authority, ft signifies that there are men who, holding the doctrines of devils, would overthrow civilisation as we know it, throw personal restraint to the winds, trample all that is good in the mind, and give unbridled play I to tli • passions of wild beasts.’ The article concludes: Unprovoked crimes, like the attack on President McKinley, leave no room for doubt as to the aim and intention of the scoundrels who join these organisations. There is no longer any excuse for toleration. For the statesman who now lies sorely wounded earnest prayers will be offered by all good men and women. If he ho restored to health, may ho dedicate his remaining days to the establishment of true liberty, which is ever the sworn foe of license and disorder. If ho die wo earnestly hope that his martyrdom, like that of others before him whose lives have been given for the people, may not prove unfruitful but become tho herald of better things. Unhappily the occurrence of such deeds, perpetrated nominally in the cause of humanity, only serves to rivet tho chains on tho people who still lack tho freedom that is enjoyed by the citizens of the United States. Despotism finds in such acts now arguments for its iron laws, and tho upward cuurso of human progress in lands where men still struggle for freodom is retarded by the new barriers of obstruction erected in tho interests of those who so cling to autocratic

power. TIIE MORNING JOURNAL,

To-day’s Herald says Distant indeed is the triumph of democracy when the zeal for tho commonweal and devotion to republican simplicity hut exposo the Chief .Magistrate to the most foul and treacherous violence. Despising all pi ecaution, laughing at warnings, trusting implicitly to the people lie loved and served, William McKinley gauged all men by himself, and found his measure vain. Tho pathos of tiie tragedy almost outweighs the horror of it. Wherever throughout tho wide world men of kindred nations arc to bo found, anger and sorrow, rage and grief, indignation and sympathy to-day possesses them equally, and draws thorn together as when they stood beside Victoria's grave, for the attack upon tho L’rosidcnt was an attack upon our common freedom, our common laws, our common ideals, and our common aspirations. McKinley stood at the altar of duty, bravely and conscientiously encouraging his people in peaceful industry, work, and progress. He was doing for them what Victoria, did for us ; what ICjrtg Edward and his family are strenuously doing now. That he is the chief of a great republic, while we cleave to the ancient monarchy, only makes all loyal subjects of the King more sympathetic with his unfaltering efforts to guide aright his nation's destinies, and for the man himself is this added claim to our respect, esteem, and gratitude, that he knows himself to be of tho people whoso free realms extend beyond the oceans, that lie has worked patiently to bridge tho schism that divides our politics, and to establish peace and concord between all Eng-lish-speaking men. An honest man, an honorable man, a gonerous opponent, a strong friend of cautious administration, a shrewd and powerful statesman, one who in oftico did what ho could without wasting himsolf on tilings impossible and impracticable, and in private life was stainless and unpretending—this man was shot down on Friday like a dog, because, forsooth, lus countrymen lifted him to powor. The latest news is that he still lives. "While tho whole civilised world prayerfully hopes for the best, tho severity of his wound must fill evory pathetic broast with tho direst forebodings. AN UNFORTUNATE ERROR.

Owing to some unexplained reason His Exoellonoy the Governor, who is at prosent in Wellington, seems to have been misinformed as to the condition of the President, as will be seen from the following telegram, which was received from Lord Ranfurly by Mr Frank Dillingham, American Consul for New Zealand, shortly after live o'clock last evening: “It is with great regret that I learn of the fatal result of the dastardly act on the President of the United States. Such a deed is abhorred bv all English-speaking people, and on behalf of New Zealand I have to cable their sineerest condolences to Mrs McKinley and the American nation. — pANIU'KLY." There is evidently some mistake in tins telegram, as news relating to President McKinley's condition, which was received several hours after last night's news that President McKinley was dead spread throughout Auckland, was announced in several of the churches, appropriate services being held in most of tho city churches. In the morning reference was made to the attempt on President McKinley's life, and prayer* were offered for the wounded President and for the American nation.