The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1886-05-12
No Room for Anarchists.

For some months past tne anarchlsI
leaders in Chicago have by voice and
pen preached their atrocious doctrines,
and have been treated with the fullest
federation. Last week Tuesday night
they succeeded in creating a riot in
which three police officers and one an
archist were killed and some fifty persons
were wounded. Three of the prominent
anarchist leaders-Spies, Fielden and
Schwab-have been arrested, and held
without bail on charges of murder.
The anarchists destroyed considerable
property the following day, and ex-
changed some shots with the police,
who dispersed them. Strikers of the
anarchist class in Milwaukee had a con-
flict with the militia, in which two men
were killed, four were fatally wounded
and others more or less injured. Since
Wednesday there has been no repetition
of these scenes, and comparative quiet
has been restored in both cities.
Although these violent outbreaks in
Chicago and Milwaukee were coinci-
dent with the labor troubles, yet they
have no connection with the legitimate
efforts of workingmen to improve their
condition, and the question of the rights
of labor is not involved. But the an
archism which has attempted to execute
its ferocious purpose in the western
cities has been emboldened by mistaken
sympathy and leniency, and it would be
idle to deny that the sinister teachings
of its leaders have had considerable
effect upon the laboring classes of the
country. This is the grave feature of
the situation, for the extreme socialists
in this country are not a numerous
body; nearly all of them are foreigners,
many of whom were compelled to leave
their native countries by their own law
lessness; and there is little danger that
the views which they entertain will
ever gain much foothold among intelli-
gent and conservative workingmen.
But they contribute something to ag-
gravate the difficulties which embarrass
the relations of labor and capital; they
mislead and corrupt the ignorant and
thoughtless by their contemptuous dis
regard of, and warfare upon, law, order
and decency, and they foment dis
turbances in the lower orders of society.
Anarchism is not the synonym for
liberty, but for license; it is an attack
upon the existence of civilized order,
and when it falls into crime it must be
stamped out. 1t makes war upon those
who have, by ability or merit, won a
home and fortune; it aims at the over
throw of free government established
to protect persons and property, and to
divide up homes and property among
the idle, the dissipated and the thrift
less. Agrarianism is dream that can
never be realized, because it is imprac-
ticable, and more than this because its
advocates seek to advance their wild
theories by criminal methods. The
better sentiment of the people is OPP
posed to the use of force as a means
for righting grievances. Still there is a
sufficient element of the dissatisfied and
ill-disposed, to which the anarchist
appeals, to give cause for distrust and
uneasiness. The welfare of the coun-
try seems to demand the repression of
the anarchists. For the most part they
are idle and vicious and the enemies of
law and order. We can fully endorse
the suggestion of the Tribune that it is
time to provide by federal law that an
archists and enemies of all government
shall have no home rresting- place in the
United States. A distinction can prop
erly be drawn between them and patriots
seeking refuge from foreign despotism
but the anarchists, as class, have nc
claim upon our hospitality or protec
ton. This country will have less Of
riot and crime and labor troubles ant
more of peace, good order and pros
perity when it ceases to furnish an
asylum for the criminal and paupel
classes of the Old World.