It means the moment when democracy was threatened was a terrible time, because it threatens the whole country.
Explanation:
Gorman says that we did not expect to be heirs to such a terrible time. That hour is the time when democracy and order were threatened in the country, which threatened the life and freedom of all citizens. A "terrifying hour" refers to a time that will have extremely negative results and that will accompany people for a long time.
The best way to learn about Annie is to follow her for a day. She lives in New York. It is where she was born, and she is proud of the city is the best choice :P