St. Landry democrat. (Opelousas, La.) 1878-1894, 1885-04-04
Reformers and Dynamiters.

time since the great revolution in
Europe, in 1848-50, have the oppo-
nents of AbsoIutism been SO numer-
GUS and active as at present. This
may be SO, but the advocates of hui
man rights are a different class Of
men from that which set all Europe
afane in 1848-50, and made tyrants
tremble for their thrones and heads.
Then they had for their leaders a
Pope, Plus X a Poet, Lamartine !;
an Orator, Kossuth, and a Soldier
King, Carlo Alberto, and the en-
blems Of liberty arose in the proud
est capitals of the Old World, where
for centuries had Haunted the gor-
geous ensigns Of regal pomp and
power.
Now they are led by men of the
calibre Of O'Donovan Rossa. Then
they welded the sword and poised
the bayonet in defense Of their
cause. Now they content them
selves with waging a war of words.
and invoking the use Of the torch Of
the incendiary and the bomb of the
dynamiter. This course has alien
ated from them many Of the strong
est, most able, influential and pa
triotic Of the advocates Of liberty
and equality, and has evoked from
the most powerful Of churches
anathema maranathama.
These men content themselves
with the use of the most eztrava-
giant and threatening language, and
an occasional explosion Of dynamite
bombs in public places and build
ings, thereby mutilating, killing or
afrighting unofending women and
children-their object being to in
spire terror in the hearts Of the ty-
rants against whom they hurl SO
much harmless wind. These men
have thrown around a noble cause
a cloud of obloquy, ridieule and
prediudice. They have frightened
the timid and disguised the stout
hearted, and sent back the sun OF
truth, freedom and civilization
many degrees on the dial plate Of
Human Progress.
These crazy zealots have already
attracted hostile action before strik-
ing an honest, effective blow in be
half of the cause they SO loudly adj
vocate. Even Republican France
has expelled from her borders the
German Socialists who recently
created row on the occasion Of
the funeral of communist editor
In Paris. The Swiss Government
has banished from Berne all the
Anarchists and Nihilists who have
50 long made that city their head
quarters, and the Municipal Gov
eminent of Paris recently dispersed
8 convention, ostensibly called fol
the purpose Of adopting plans by
which that most Wanton and COW.
ardly form of murder assassination
by dynamite could be rendered
more effcacious and terrible
Here, in the United States, these
dynamite fends hold, from time tt
time, their orgies, and give free ut
terance to their murderous rawlings
selecting for their meetings suck
great centres Of population as New
York, Philadelphia and Chicago
Now, by sensible people, the radio
vaporings of these fanatics are al
lowed to pass as the idle vino
which they regard not; but there
is large floating population in this
country who are strangers to The
workings of our free institutions
and who have passed most of theil
lives under the CALLING restraints o
tyranical governments, and who arr
ever ready to lend willing ears te
the wild preachings of Missionaries
and embark in any rash adventure
that might promise employment
money or revenge. One of the fun
damental principles of our Republi
can government is freedom O
speech, and any curtailme0t of tina
right, even by the courts, has al
ways met with the swiftest and se
yerest reprobation. To foreigners
especially, has this right ever beer
accorded in its broadcast latitude
The independence Of some foreign
countries has found eloquent advo