The Carbon advocate. [volume] (Lehighton, Pa.) 1872-1924, 1886-08-28
THE ANARCHISTS.

THE ANARCHISTS.
The guilty Chicagoauurchists are to be
hanged. They entered into a conspiracy
to kill, and they find that the law holds
that this is murder if Ailling is the con-
sequence of the conspiracy. There is
something pathetic in the suddenness OF
the discovery by these plotters against
law and order that their crime is punish
able on the gallows. They evidently did
not know the terrible character of their
oilense. They met together and con-
cocted schemes for the destruction of So
ciety, and these schemes involved the
murder of men. Perhaps they even inn
agined their plottings would never come
TO anything, and it is likely enough that
some among the leaders some who were
sentenced to be hanged-were mcon-
scioNs of the danger that their incendary
words. meant to be mere words, might
fall upon tinder minds and conhagra-
tion burst forth. Many anarchists are
lazy money getters, who live and thrive
by kindling passions the force of which
they do not begin to appreciate.
However that may be, these Chicago
anarchists are to hang, unless some twist
in the channel of the law shall lead them
to liberty instead of the gallows. The
court, on appeal, may find some error in
the trial that has just closed which will
defeat justice; but at present the criminals
are doomed. Their counsel called their
agitation warfare But society does not
recognize as the acts of men sneaking
about in the dark with bombs concealed
under their cloaks, pretending all the
time to be law-abiding citizens, carrying
no flag, making no proclamation of hos
tility beyond the growl at the existing
order to which all humans of the mascu-
line variety are entitled. The law says,
and says justly, that killing of the sort
which was done in Chicago is assassina-
sion, and that they who practice it and
connive at it must hang.
The terrible sentence which has been
pronounced in Chicago is cry of halt to
anarchism in this country. Men who do
not like the present constitution ofsociety
may meet and resolve against t,may even
vote against it, and attempt to change
it by impressing their. views upon the
government; but they must not kill. Ideas
and opinions arenot to be advocated with
dynamite in the Uuited States. Dynamite
is a different creed in countries where
rulers must he convinced by threats of
murder; but in this country every man
has his opportunity to convert the people
to his way of thinking, and he must stand
on an equal footing with his fellows, win
ming, if he does win, by argument and
reasoning. He mUstnot take an advant-
age which is not granted to his sneighbor.
lie must not seek to better laws by break
ing down all law, and by killing the
guardians appointed to preserve properly
and to protect human liberty and life.
1t may be asudden revelation to thean-
archists that they are in danger of being
hurled into prison or hanged on the gal
lows by practicirg their teachings, but it
is wholesome that the reyeIation should
be made, and that the les .on should be
taught. Peaceful methods are at the
command of all men in this land, and
crime and violence cannot redress wrongs
ifthe workingmen have a jlst cause of
complaint against the laws or against
their employers, they can find redress
peaceable, for public opinion will always
be with them when they are right.
This is democratic country, and the
average opinion must govern, not the
select opinion Of the few who fancy they
are ON the bottom. The anarchists are $
despotic in attempting to force their view 8
upon the country through murder as any
crowned lyrant who ever snatched his
scepter from the loosening grasp of a
slaughtered democracy and waded to his
throne through sea of blood. Both the
many-headed and the individual tyrants
laid violent hands on the sacred majesty
oflaw, and in this instance the law has
resented the insolence with fatal power.