“THE RED PERIL.”

Gisborne Times, Volume VI, Issue 214, 16 September 1901, Page 2

“THE RED PERIL.”

lIlsTOliY has shown that in the long run I acts will be determined by principle ; 60 [ intense enthusiasm leads to fanaticism. Czolgosz was a fanatic narrowly devoted to the principles of anarchy, and he has succeeded in shocking the world by carrying out his formed purpose of killing President McKinley. There is no reason for believing that he killed McKinley out of a desire for cheap notoriety, or because of any fancied or real grievance. Is sole object was !o exploit the teachings of anarchy. By accomplishing his treacherous deed he accomplished what he considered his* life work. The terror of death did not restrain him. What are the principles that will lead a man to violate the highest human sensibility to face the death of a murderer Merely a belief that there should be no government at all ; that every individual should do as he likes and thinks, and speaks as it please him. “ Governments,” says the anarchists, “ are all bad, even though they be well intended ; and the only way we can cal! the attention of the world to our views and at £ko same time make a throne an undesirable tenancy is to kill rulers and others who sit in high places.” As it happens, modern theory permits freedom of thought—indeed, that- must always be allowed —and what is practically perfect freedom of speech. It is reeognished that any restriction placed upon the tongue savors of despotism, and so the anarchists —in British-speaking countries, at least —deliver their incendiary speeches, and print papers, urging one another to violence. It has been shown of late that the foreign quarters of most of the great cities in America are hotbeds of anarchy. Two hundred Italian anarchists at Pennsylvania and other places publicly celebrated the late , assassination, .showing that anarchist iSi>k»—~ ■

principles are especially rife amongst the J Italians. No steps are taken to stop the ' teaching of anarchy, because it is against j the theory of American government to choke opinions. The result is that a lien! like Czolgosz. is inflame! by the inciting speeches of his confederates, his purpose is fixed, and ho kills the great McKinley. On the Continent, and other places, it has been shown that the employment of means of repression against the anarchists is far from successful. Rigorous treatment is welcomed by' anarchists as martyrdom, and as likely to strengthen i any weak cause. The Courts of Belgium, ■ ns we know, let the man Sipidio go, he i who attempted the life of our present ! King. This gave fresh impetus to i Socialism everywhere, and was no doubt j i responsible in an indirect way for the ' assassination of King Humbert. The ; j plea ofteu advanced is that the j anarchist who commits murder is j i insane : it is unwise to recognise 1 this kind of insanity, if its recognition j j necessitates any mitigation of the punishmeut of the crime. It may be said that no sane man could believe the things the anarchists believe, but the only basis for saying this is that their beliefs are vadij eally opposed to our own. They are i intense—ruled by principles. If the | principles lead them into definite evil acts then as criminals they should he | punished. A man s private belief cannot 1 be controlled—only as you can give hint healthful environment or teach him individual Iv as a friend, but the utterance of murderous sentiments in public meetings such as Emma Goldman expressed should i be severely punished, and such restrictions i j would fall naturally within the proviuco of a government whose chief object | would be the preservation of its own I existence.