New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1881-08-10
ASS1SSTNs NOT WELCOME.

Inc persons who express sympathy with
Hartmann do not seem to realize the odious
position they are taking. Not less odi0us is
the position of those who commend or excuse
the sending of internal machines to Great
Britain, or the construction of torpedo-boats
designed to sink British ships All these people
are encouraging cold-blooded and cowardly
murder
Hartmann, for instance did not kill the Gar.
But according to his own account, he did MUIR
der other unofendng persons, who were on the
train that was blown up by his mine. The
killing of other innocent persons was delib-
crate and intentional, according to the account
given by the murderer himself, for he says
that it was expected, and regarded by Sthe
conspirators as an unavoidable incident, that
helpless and innocent persons should be killed
in the train blown up. There was no way to
reach the life of the Car without killing other
persons also, and therefore the conspirators re-
solved upon the murder of others, unknown to
them, in order to accomplish their main object
Indeed, the case becomes still worse when it
is remembered that the escape of the Car, by
his transfer to different train, was distinctly
contemplated by the cOnspirators as possible
They could not be certain that the Car was
in the train that they destroyed But on the
bare chance of killing him, they murdered
other persons who were entirely blameless and
helpless.
There can be no possible excuse for this
crime. If Russia should ask the surrender of
Hartmann at all, it would not demand him as
conspiratOr who had tried to commit a DO
litical offence, but as a cold blooded and cow
ardly murderer who had killed helpless
and innocent private individuals. What reason
other than a technical one could our Govern
ment give for refusng9 Could it answer 4:
True this person has murdered people who
did him no harm, and who had nothing to
" do with politics. But regicide is so beauti-
ful, so glorious, so beneficial to the world,
" that the person who kills others, no matter
I" how many, in trying to kill monarch,
shall be justified and sheltered" There is
not a sane man in this or any other civilized
country who will take that position. For it
would be at war with all social order and
civilization.
But In what particular are the Fenian bomb
users less guilty? They do not even aim at
the life of a monarch, or any other ruler.
Their avowed purpose is to murder innocent
and helpless persons. The bombs, they say,
shall be put on board British passenger
ships, merchant ships, and, if posi-
bic, ships of war; Even on vessels of
war, the persons whose lives are threatened are
In no way responsible for the course of the
British Government toward Ireland, If they
WERE to kill them would be fendish and
dastardly crime, but there is not even the
shadow of pretext for killing men
who are mere servants and hrelings of
the Government, earning bread for them
selves and their families by their labor as
seamen, engineers or coal-heavers. SO if tor
pedo-bOats are to be used, the lives of inno
cent and helpless persons are threatened, and
in most infamous and cowardly manner.
The only reason is precisely that which the
Nihilists give-that the murder of innocent
persons may possibly and indirectly hasten the
downfall of Government.
1t is proper for our Government to take the
first occasion which arises to make clear the
distinction between political offences and crimes
AGAINST all civilized society This country