McKinley Assassination Ink

August 18, 2006 10:11 AM

McKinley Assassination Ink:"The goal [...]: to gather the largest possible selection of full-text primary source documents relating to the assassination of William McKinley and the immediate aftermath of that event, including the succession of Theodore Roosevelt to the presidency and the incarceration, trial, and execution of [anarchist] assassin Leon Czolgosz."
posted by OmieWise (9 comments total)

Very interesting project. Not so sure about the interface. Thanks for the link.
posted by blucevalo at 10:58 AM on August 18, 2006

“. . . in conversation and appearance he was more intelligent than the average Polish laborer . . . .”

—— anonymous, American Journal of Insanity, Oct. 1901

great, thanks
posted by matteo at 11:04 AM on August 18, 2006

Anarchist. Communist. Terrorist.

Gotta love the convenient arbitrary labels we apply to those we are told to be afraid of.
posted by squalor at 11:28 AM on August 18, 2006

Czolgosz actually WAS a (self-proclaimed) anarchist, though. Emma Goldman had some kind words for him. It is interesting to see how American "anarchophobia" of that era was tied in with religious, racial, and (understandably) class prejudice. My favourite quote from that page:

Father, protect our native land
From anarchy’s accursed hand;
Defend the lives of rulers dear
From day to day, from year to year.

Blot out foul anarchistic stain,
Let not a trace of it remain,
For traitors on this nation’s sod,
Are traitors to Almighty God.

I hope I'm not the only one who cringed at "rulers dear".
posted by stammer at 11:43 AM on August 18, 2006

The "self-proclaimed anarchist" moniker is interesting. I guess since you can't "officially" register like card-carrying ACLU members or registered Republicans or something, but it always makes the whole philosophy seem so DIY and tawdry.... but I can be a bit of a broken record on that topic I suppose. Great [though oddly laid out] site!
posted by jessamyn at 11:53 AM on August 18, 2006

I am o so sorry
That our president is dead
And everybody's sorry
So my father said
And the horrid man who did this
Is a-sitting in his cell
And I'm glad that Emma Goldman
Doesn't board at this hotel.
posted by Astro Zombie at 12:13 PM on August 18, 2006

Czolgosz was a patsy.
posted by Smedleyman at 1:03 PM on August 18, 2006

Execution of Czolgosz, with panorama of Auburn Prison (Thomas A. Edison, Inc.)
posted by milquetoast at 2:27 PM on August 18, 2006

Good link. Assassination Vacation needs a sequel.
posted by tkchrist at 2:44 PM on August 18, 2006