Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1882-06-14
K:he Power OF Assassi .aafiOn.

From the London SPECTATOR.
The Nihilism which uses the bullet has now
existed seven years in Russia and is to all ap-
pearance as strong as ever; and there is nothing
in Russia, except the Russian power Of self-sac-
riiee-Or rather not to misuse that grand word
OF self-eomDression- which separates it by any
vast interval from any other country. The ten
dency everywhere for extremists to reject all re-
hgiOus belief. tends decidedly to increase all the
crimes which may be described as those of con-
seienceless fanaticism; while there has occurred,
from some cause another, perhaps from the
spread of disbelief, and consequent relaxation
10 the check Of opinion a visible decline IN the
fear OF punishment. If such society can work
unbrOkea for seven wears. why not for seventy;
and II II can secure one efficaciOns agent every
quarter. WY not one month, or one a week?
What guarantees US against assassination be-
coming the most terrible of all anarchcal forces,
as fatal to progress as party feeling has been in
many OF the states of Spanish America, where
nothing advances. because nothing of the pOlit-
ical kind ever gives men the assurance that it
will last?
We confess. and it is a very disagreeable con-
tession to make, that we do not perceive, with
any certain sense of perception. where the guar
aGtee is 1t is certainly not to be found in ter
Tor. Breaking on the wheel has been tried and
no more secured the kings. who were the old
marks for the assassin than burning secured
the Spanish hqusitOrs against heresy. 1t is
scarcely to be found in watchfulneSs, or the
Gar would be secure; while the armOr of inno-
cent conduct is made ridiculous by the last as
sassnations in Ireland. Assassination can pro-
duce only negative result; but. then, may not
that be the very object? The nihilists used to
say thai anarchy was their object, and though
we see reason TO believe they have departed
rom that theory, still, while it lasted, and was
true, it would explain persistence till the end
was attained Or might not the motive
De hatred, perpetually renewing itself,
for some undying thing? The Irish Reds
say that this is their motive hatred
OF Britain: and it is certain that the CRsarist
hatred of the Christian church, which produced
what were virtually assassinations. lasted with
Intervals of quiescence. for nearly two hundred
and fifty years. That hatred burning up to the
massacre-pOint, existed, though not cOntinu-
ously, from Nero to DiOcletan. Continued I'M
productiyeness would daunt aSsassins, however
extreme, in the long-run. If they sought pOlit-
cal Change; but not if they sought only a re-
yenge. the provOcaton to which never died. Ex-
perience shows that there is a certain security
IN the difficulty with which company of men
keep up enthusiasm, or hatred. or blOOdthirsti-
Ness to the same height on the immoral barom-
etef. Some OF them are sure to hate more than
Others and in such cases hatred is sure to break
out within the society itself, one stratum
pronOuncing another stratum tend or
mad and as there is no means of secur-
ing victory save murder, the less enraged
would Kill out the more enraged remOrse-
iessly- The French TerrOrists. who We're very
nearly assassins. though most of'them were pos
slbly unconscious of their own impulses. per-
ished IN that way. and at last slaughtered one
another out, the revOlters having nO intention
OF putting the Terror down. The difference of
degree In hate does not. however. always occur,
the tendency of such a society being to winnow
Itself; and. OH the whole, the best security we
can think of Is that special forms of crime and
especially biOOdthirsty crime approximate in
their symptoms to diseases. and, like acute dis
eases. appear after perceptible periods of time
To exhaust themselves Mems minds will not
remain at certain height, either of grandeur or
crininaiity, TOR more than certain period and
society OF assassins continuously prepared to
assassinate Is as impossible a society contnu-
ousy prepared TO lead forlOrn hopes. That
source of security is. however a feeble one and
We are forced 10 end as we began with a doubt
whether, except in the government of Divine
providence, there is any clear security against
the rise of assassins. i'm spite of the horror of a
world. to distinct and great disturbing power
In political affairs.