The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1882-11-09
The Bomb in Franco.

The riOtOu5 demonstrations OF French an
archists, which began at MOnteeau- les Mines
and rapidly extended throughout the Depart
ments of the Saone-et- Loire and of the Rhone,
have not yet been entirely suppressed, and the
revolutionary spirit that melted the violent
outbreak seems to be spreading. The arrest
of the ringleaders and strict police suryeillancs
will probably prevent anything like general
uprising at present; but there is no doubt, in
view of recent disclosures regarding the prev
alence OF Socialism in France, that the situa-
tion is serious.
Investigation has developed remarkable
state of things. The authorities have been
curiously ignorant of what was going on
under their very eyes, Bombs are found in
public buildings, restaurants and railroad de-
poas. Discoveries of dynamite. to be used for
the destruction of life and property, have been
made in various parts of the Republic. A
secret dynamite factory has been unearthed,
and doubtless many others exist. The an.
archists are thoroughly organized and ready
for desperate work. They constitute a part
of great constitutional organization, reach
ing from the Ural Mountains to the Bay OF
Bscay. Their purpose, as boldly outlined in
the Drcit newspaper-sn organ of the con-
spirators-is to:wipe out property rights and
upset social and political systems. What
schemes are to take the place of existing sys-
TENS these revolutionists do not make known,
and it is likely they have not considered that
question. The Alpha and Omega Of their
programme, so far as the world has been in
formed, is anarchy.
There are in France some Of the craziest
malcontents on the Continent. They are
legacy from the Empire. They act on the
theory that whatever is is wrong. They are
always eager to array themselves against So
ciety and the State. This mobbish element
heretofore delighted in plots and barricades
and the red flag. 1t made up in vindictive-
ness, activity and persistence what it lacked
in numbers. Latterly, it appears, these fierce,
uncomfortable spirits have become altogether
too numerous for the welfare of the Republic
They hove adopted new plans and measures
Tht methods of Russian Nihilists have been
copied. Their operations are conducted more
secretly than they once were. Bombs and
dynamite are the weapons of their warfare.
The movements of the Royalists, in con-
nection with the anarchical uprising, are sig
niicant. Very soon after the trouble broke
out at Monteeau.les- Mines-about two months
ago-the Royalists made savage assault on
the Government all along the line, and the at
tacks have been continuous ever since. Meet
ings have been held in many places and Re-
publican institutions, measures and leaders
been violently assailed by wild-eyed orators
Deputations were not long ago sent to the
Pretender. who is abroad; they were sppar-
emily infused with enthusiasm for him, and on
their return proclaimed that the supreme mo-
ment had arrived-that it was time for action.
This meant revolution. The Pretender's fol-
lowers no doubt had much to do with subse-
quent riotOus proceedings-lf they were not
indeed the instigators of the first hostile man
ifestations They saw an opportunity to add
fuel to the cOmmunistic fires and set them
blazing, and were quick to take advantage OF
it, hoping, of course, that the Royalist cause
would somehow be promoted by the general
disorder.
The administration of public affairs in France
is not what it should be, or the conditions
which have made dangerous revolutionary
movement possible could not exist. The Gov.
eminent is too tolerant with its avowed en-
emies it is too easy-going for Republic bat
recently erected on the ruins OF an Empire,
and containing within its borders large class
bent on mischief; it has been too careless of
the Vaccinations of lot OF cranky agitators
who have sought persistently to create spirit
of lawlessness and revolution BY inflammatorv
utterances and publications. The Government
ought to profit by the lesson of the present
upheaval. Promp. and severe measures NAV
crush the anarchists. But the only safety
hereafter is in eternal vigilance "-Csn. Times.