New-York tribune., 1886-05-08

! UHAT FREEDOM FOR ANARCHY MEANS.
There can be no better time than the present
| for the American people to reflect seriously
upon the implications of continuing freedom to
the Anarchist propaganda in this country. We
are all so habituated to regard what we under
stand by free speech as q sacred right that 1t is
difficult to realize the existence of a state of
things which NAV seem to put the wisdom of
our time -honored principle in doubt Such
doubt is in truth not justified, for the disseml-
nation of Anarchist ideas has really nothing in
common with the ordered liberty whose main
tenance everv American citizen is pledged to-
The real question before the country is whether
a propaganda whose avOwed purpose is the de-
struction of the whole social and political sys-
tem and the substitution of red ruin and the
breaking up of law" is entitled to any tolera-
ton. There is no pretence, nor room for
pretence, that the Anarchists if let alone will
ever accomplish anything but what the nation
at large unquestionably considers unmixed evil.
This being the case, it may be asked whether
federation for the propaganda is not plainly
federation of organized crime. We have laws
for the punishment of arson, bnrglary, high
way robbery, assault to murder, and murder.
Can we consistently permit schools to be estab-
lshed among us in which men are taught that
it is their right TO perpetrate all these crimes
with impunity, and that society is guilty of in
iquity in forbidding and furnishing themP
There is no analogy between the theories Of
the ordinary Socialists and those of the Anarch-
lists. The former hold that the present arrange
ment of society is wrong, but they aim at what
they think reform by peaceful and legitimate
means. The latter hold that the whole existing
system ought to be destroyed violently. They
declare their open enmity to civilization, in
fact, and approve assassination, massacre, in
cendarism aud p;llage. Beng as they are
nearly all foreigners, few of whom can speak
English, most of whOm are densely ignorant
ana of low order of intelligence, there is no
prospect of their conversion to reasonable
views; certainly so long as the fountains
which supply their pernicious ideas ale per-
mitted to flow freely. We must therefore.
if we maintain the present principle of
toleration, be prepared to pay the price
of it, and that price will be high. If We
allow these schools of crime to flourish un-
checked we must protect ourselves by taking
on many of the burdens which now oppress the
older States of Europe. We must increase our
police force. We mast keep our militia in a
STATE Oh COHstduJ eIHcjeHcy anu pItpdidIioH. |
We may have u enlarge our Federal army. |
And having dOneall this, We shall still have to
make our account with periodical outbreaks of
Anarchist ferocity, which, however quickly and
sternly repressed, will cost much blood and |
treasure.
Moreover while harboring these foes of |
humanity we shall be continually exposed to
panic fears. Every quarrel between capital
and labor will be possible opportunity for a
riot. Every occasion of popular agitation will
have the same sinister implication. 1t must be
expected too that the stream of foreign imrn-
grafton, distributed largely in aud about the
centres of Anarchist propagandsm, will be in
fected by these poisonous teachings, and that
the dangerous element will increase and not
diminish. Nor must it be left out of considera-
tion that the federation accorded Anarchist
doctrines will be liable to be interpreted by the
more ignorant as proof of their legitimacy. The
effectiveness of law depends MAINLY upon the
moral sOundness of public opinion. The effect
of allo wing Anarchism to be taught without let
or hindrance must naturally be to famiarize
the least intelligent with the idea that there
is particular harm in these attacks upon
sOcety in these reiterated indictments to riot,
arson and outrage. The country has seen
already what freedom for Anarchy means on
'mall scale. Is it prepared to accept this
malignant guest as permanent resident7 Is
t prepared to bear the cost, moral as well as
material. which the exh biton of so blind and
eckless a hospitality will entail upon it7