The Dallas daily herald. [volume] (Dallas, Tex.) 1873-1887, 1882-07-28
THE NEW POLITICAL FORCE

more or less force in different eras, and has
been correspondingly dreaded. II has
been reserved for the enlightenment of the
latte- quarter of the nineteenth century,
however, to give this tremendous political
force its greatest perfection. Nihilism and
dynamite in Russia have almost become
synonymous, and the influence and ex.
PLOTS Of the Russian rcvolutionists have
rapidly made in other countries converts
to the theory Of swift success through this
powerful and secret means. IL was hardly
TO be supposed though, that the prepare
ton and study of dynamite as a political
force would be transplanted to free and re-
publican America, but such seems to be the
case. On several occasions recently the
attempt has been made to use it here, and
a number of Internal machines have been
discovered. Added to this, the intell.
gence within the last few days has gone
abroad, seemingly from reliable
source, that there actually exists in
the United States to-day school
whose only study is the investigation
OF the various ways in which deadly and
powerful explosives may be prepared and
handled for the avowed purpose of blowing
the ships and strongholds of certain Euro
pean nations into pieces. The London
Times, so our recent dispatches inform us,
on the 9th inst, has this to say editorially
with reference to the subject 1.-The license
that the American criminal law allows to
dynamite projects is scandal and shame
to American legislation. A more enor-
nous scandal is the attitude which public
opinion in America assumes toward them.
Never was there body ofnational opinion
so inquisitiye and keen which could have
shown itself more feeble and inert in the de-
Tense fpublic morality than the opinion in
America since the dynamite school became
notorious. Americans must determine il
they will continue to be subject to this re-
proach." If the fact is SO that u school
with such purpose exists, and as the Times
says, public opinion is feeble and inert
thereto, then it is, indeed, reproach to us,
aud the criminal laws should at once be so
remodeled as absolutely to prevent the
further prosecution OF such project in any
section of this great country. Whatever
may be the wrongs and grievances OF pcO-
pie or class, the higher thought and hui
manity of the day must condemn resort to
such a cruel and barbarous weapon of re-
dress. To slaughter indiscriminately the
guiltless with the guilty, the weak
with the strong; to steal stealthily like the
savage upon the foe and like the vandal
glory simply in creating ruin, is mode
OF warfare that all fair minded and brave
men must deprecate and oppose. The
public opinion which would encourage it
must be gross indeed. Great principles are
not established by such means. The bru-
tality and violence of the attack produce u
conservative reaction and sympathy which
overwhelm the cause and chains are only
riyeted the tighter. Principle is thing of
growth n force that gradually works its
way to the surface. through the ever
developing intelligence and sense of
right of the masses, who when
fully aroused need no violent meas
ures to correct abuses. What the
people or the majority of them are agreed
upon will be done, but this unanimity OF
feeling can only be brought about by the
long and steady, though moderate pull.
Dynamite will never establish q principle,
nor terror ever accomplish lasting re-
form. Society and social and political laws
arise from experience, perception of ne.
cessity and fitness, and revolutions never
go backward only, when in a general and
proper uprising they demand the realization
of long felt want. The continued use of
destructive explosives for. purposes of as.
sassination and otherwise, by rabid
revolutionists, will only serve to put the
better and conservative portion of the
world against them, and if such school as
before mentioned exists in this country, it
should be speedily closed and its professors
and students punished. In the meantime
1t is safe to say that the London papers as
sumption that towards these projects pub.
lie opinion in the United States is
feeble and inert" is gross
and ignorant Misrepresentation. Pub
lie opinion with us is always
keenly alive to abuses, and would urge
their correction, but by fair and honorable
means. We would never be found in sym.
pathy with the assassin, unless, perchance,
his victim were CALIGuLA or u RoBl-
srIERRR. 1t is possible that the fears OF our
English cousins, us to the wholesale study
and preparation of dynamite here are un
founded, and that our people think so. 1t
is from this reason, II any, that little inter.
est is manifested in the premises.
REWARD THE FAITHFUL SERVANT.
Tue canvass in Kentucky wakes warm,