Custer chronicle. [volume] (Custer City, Black Hills, D.T. [S.D.]) 1880-1890, 1886-06-12

The developments and disclosures
which have followed the recent das-
tardly murders in Chicago, and the
real or suppressed outbreaks in other
cities, have operated somewhat to
change opinion as to the character of
the anarchist and the rights and privi-
leges TO be accorded him. The public
ia not to be- blamed for having had
heretofore IN inadequate comprehen-
sion of the matter. 1t did not really
know anything about the genus an
archist. 1t had read more or less of
Russian atrocities. but il viewed them
through the extenuating light of the
expressions of Russian despotism. 1t
had heard of this curious animal in
Germany, and sven in France and in
London; but it still regarded him asin
ONE way a parasite of the m%onarchial
system, to whom the free air of a re-
publican system would prove ia
tai. 1t no more thought of pro-
viding especially against anything
that ne might say or do than
a city council does about passing an
ordinance forbidding savage wild beasts
10 run at large in the streets. And
wen when it took a nearer view, saw
excited meetings, read incendiary
harangues, and heard of secret armed
drillings, it still considered the an
archist movement as only one branch
OF the noble army of cranks whom we
have always with US. For this reason
the privilege of free speech, free publi-
cation, and free assembly were extend
ed to them as to all other citizens or
residents. But investigation has shown
that this was a mistake. The anarchist
resembles the crank less than the
lunatic. The one may be left to the
liberty of the ordinary citizen with only
slight pr~ecaution against a possible ac-
cession of violent delusion. The other
cannot. with due regard to public and
individual safety, be made free from
restraint and surveillance.
The anarchist in u free country is
hardly to be- called an anomaly. He
KS rather O shrewd villain who takes
this name as a decent cover for desires
and projects of murder and plumber.
His pretense of conviction upon new
governmental theories and his alleged
notion of a pure state are pure bosh.
He differs in no wise from the ordinary
criminal. the burglar, hUusebreaker.
fire fiend or murderer, except in the
assignment of u general instead of q
special motive for his crime. Probably
We nave not in this country, at least in
the ranks Of the so-called anarchists, q
score of men who are really and hon.
estly the fanatics that they pretend to
be. All the rest are deep-dyed scoun-
drels, who think that tho name of
anarchist" ia more decent and will
better enable them to carry cut their
devilish designs. The imaginary dis.
sAlStsoh " hAo oluAs IA bLo
ordinary law-breaker has disappeared.
This being true, the law should here.
after look upon the anarchist as a con-
fessed criminal. II knows precisely
what are his desires, and what means
he will take to put them into practice.
He has no more title to express those
views TO others, to bid for converts. to
spread deiusions and encourage insur'-
reotious than the burglar has to walk
down street in brond daylight, with
his kit under his arm, and = Llacard
on his back calling for assistants to
help him in cracking u safe and kill
ing a Waterman. liz has heen learned
that all of the anarchists are criminals
in intent, and most of them in fact.
On this basis they should hereafter
tand in the eye of the law, and their
meetings, alliances and %pronuncia-
mentos should be treated accordingly.