THE Temuka Leader. THURSDAY, DECEMBER 28, 1893. THE ANARCHISTS.

Temuka Leader, Issue 2600, 28 December 1893, Page 2

THE Temuka Leader. THURSDAY, DECEMBER 28, 1893. THE ANARCHISTS.

The outrage in the French Chamber of Deputies indicates that there exists a deep-rooted revolutionary spirit on the Continent of Europe. It is evident that that amiable gentleman, the anarchist, is getting bolder and more vicious, aud that he means business. This is not at all a pleasant prospect for the residents of Continental cities. It is rather uncomfortable for them to feel that at any moment they may be blown to atoms. We should not feel surprised at such outrages oecurjng in Russia or Turkey, or other despotically governed countries, as we should regard them as the expression of a desire for freedom. JSow-a-days the people in such countries have no other means of redressing wrongs, and consequently might be pardoned for resorting to such violence. In the olden days, when the majority of the western states of Europe succeeded in gaining their liberty, the weapons of war had not reached such a state of perfection as at present, and consequently the people had better opportunities of fighting for their ! feeedom," ■> Now-a-days, however, a few canning, gatling guns, mitrailleuses, maxims, &e., placed in certain positions can mow dam » city in no time, and it is useless for the people p) rebel. Th?v uot > a "d cannot, get ihese terribly u??tructive wpaponS, and eynto fight a 3 iw-sy used to do in the days <4 Old is out of the question. Science, however, b#s placed in the hands of the people these fearfejjiy destructive explosives with which the anaf&Wsta so frequently strike terror into the hearts of I t'heir rulers, and, seeing that these are tlie only means o£ redressing wrongs the people have in <tespo.tically-governed countries, it is not to £.e wo«<£er,ed at if they resort to them. In France, however, j the circumstances are different. There j the people are free, inasmuch as that they . can choose tkaiv own rulers. Manhood suffrage is the fraijehist) of France; every man over twenty-one years of .age is entitled to vote, and every man j over 25 years is eligible for a seat in Par- j iiament. Where men possess such a liberal franchise as that, it is their own fault if oppressive and tyrannical law 3 exist, and they deserve* no sympathy, i There is therefore no excuse for such jj villainous conduct as that which charac- j the diabolical actions of the anar- j ehistfj of. France, but let us not forget that these .QStr&cros teach a lesson we ought wot to overlook. We ought to take good care never to such destructive agencies to prosper on 4-us-, tralian soil, and. the best way to do so is j to pay intelligent attention to the wants i and aspirations of the people. The people of all European countries are ground , "" by what is called " militaryism." ■■■'■"nding armies are kept up, Immense =„.. - + . th(J energies of the with the result tife- *■-_ -npressive people are crushed out hy the o r , weight of the taxation which is necessary to maintain them. Italy, Spain, and Portugal are said to be on the verge of bankruptcy, with the result that much poverty and distress exists, and hence the discontent which leads to violence such as that referred to above. Let us take a lesson from these occurrences; let us remember that a happy, prosperous, and contented people never rebelled; let it be our aim to banish poverty from the land by a more equal distribution of wealth, and if we do this we shall never be troubled with the terrors of anarchy and violence,