Cold Blooded Assassination.

New York Times 100 years ago today, February 24, 1913:
Special to The New York Times.

PHILADELPHIA, Feb. 23.— The Press will say to-morrow:
    The cold-blooded assassination of Francisco I. Madero. Jr., the deposed President or Mexico, and Jose Pino Suarez, his Vice President, will shock the civilized world.
    This foul crime is a deliberate to affront to the American people. It is a disgrace to humanity. The men who perpetrated it are dissolute, traitorous, military adventurers, who cloaked their murderous designs under the sacred name of "Liberty," which they have profaned. Nothing in the record of the French Revolution exceeds in atrocity yesterday's foul and loathsome deed. It is now for the nations of the earth to say whether they can hold any dealings with the gang or liars, murderers, and brigands who have seized the Government of unhappy Mexico.

The Record will say:
    Whether President Madero, like his brother Gustavo, was a victim of the infamous "fugitive law" of Mexico, cannot, at this writing, be stated with absolute certainty. If one inclines to the belief that the killing was an assassination, this is due partly to the character and habits of those concerned in the affair and partly to the circumstances of the case. Mexican politics are still in the barbarous stage, and a successful revolutionist in Mexico almost instinctively proceeds to complete his victory by putting to death the rival whom he has defeated.
    The impression that the new regime connived in the killing of Madero is the result of the conviction that this is the course a triumphant Mexican insurgent would naturally pursue.
    While the incident of itself would hardly give sufficient ground for the intervention of this Government in Mexican affairs, it would go far toward the creation of a feeling that the existing regime at Mexico City is not of a character to inspire that confidence which is necessary to the continuance of amicable relations and mutual respect. If the Mexicans choose to act like barbarians they must expect to be treated like barbarians.