The Days of a Man 1897 



as if a social system existed apart from the men who compose 

 it. Under Democracy all violence is treason. Whosoever heaves 

 a rock at a scab teamster, whosoever fires a shot at the Presi- 

 dent of the United States, is an enemy of the Republic, guilty 

 of high treason. The central fact of all Democracy is agree- 

 We make ment with the Law. It is our law and we made it. If desirable 

 the laws W e can unmake it, but by compact of Democracy, any change 

 must be brought about by the methods of peace and order. 



On September 13, 1901, I stood for a moment at 

 the corner of Market and Third streets in San Fran- 

 cisco, reading the posted bulletins from Washington 

 foreshadowing McKinley's death. A little old crone 

 of a woman, similarly engaged, remarked: 'The 

 President will die." "Yes," I answered sympa- 

 thetically; ; 'he is dying." At this she turned on 

 me savagely: 'You did it! You know you did; 

 you look it!" She then backed off in front of a 

 moving car and would have been instantly crushed 

 had not a young man in naval uniform jerked her 

 away as quick as a flash - - after which they both 

 melted into the moving crowd. 



But this is to anticipate by many years, and I 

 must now return to other matters. 



C 5763 



