St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1888-11-12
TAME AND FEARFUL.
Five Thousand Anarchists
Meet at the Graves Of Their
Martyrs"
The Speakers Generally Quiet
Of DemeanOp and Careful
Of Uttepance.
A Touching Letter From Par
sons to His Children
Opened and Read.
William Holmes and Paul
Grottkau Talk Of "Hypoe-
risy and Tyranny"

CHICAGO. Nov. 1.-THE afirst ami
Versary of the hanging of the anarch-
lists was observed to-day by their Chi
cago sympathizers, but not within the
limits of the city. Police regulations
prevented any procession or flying of
red bunting, and there was no outbreak
Of any kind. About 5000 people, men,
women and children, gathered individ-
ually at the depot, and two big trains
carried them to Wahldheim cemetery.
On the way to the cemetery the crowd
resembled anything rather than people
bent upon melancholy errand. Joking
mud chatting were the order of the
day all the way out. None of the
persons who gained notoriety through
connection with the anarchists trial
were present, except Spies sister Gret-
chen, and the daughters of George
Engel. Mud in the country was as eff
fectual as the police in the city in oper
ating against any procession from the
Ears to the graves. and the chilly winds
sweeping across the bleak prairies en-
circling Waldheim cemetery added to
the general discomfort. One thing,
however. was an unqualified success
The floral tributes were of the most elab-
Orate character and included contribu
lions from thirteen different Turner So
rieties. Among the flowers blood-red
ribbons were conspicuous, and
THE INSCRIPTIONS
accompanying them We're such as For
freedom and right, y ITO the pioneers
of truth and justice" and ITO the
martyrs our thanks The first speech
was by Robert RetZel, of Detroit. Com
pared with the rantng heard year
ago on the same spot, his remarks
tame. In fact, there was not a single
incendiary phrase In his entire speech.
He dropped into poetry quite frequently.
He held that year ago, on the graves
of the anarchists, the mourners were at
once plaintiffs and judges. 1t was
not quite apparent to him how
long working people would be
permitted to bury their dead
without the capitalistic power
bringing bayonets and bloodshed among
the graves. III this manner the speaker
held forth for the better paIt Of half an
hour. Then fifty children from the $50
clalist Sunday School" sang in childish
mechanical fashion hymn in praise of
the Martyrs" When the sounds of
the children'S voices had ceased, the
chairman, George -Schilling proceeded
to that which was to be the central at
traction and attention. letter from AL
bert R. Parsons to his children, adj
dressed to them with request that it
should not be opened OF read until the
first anniversary of his execution. Per-
feet quiet came over the assembly as
the letter was read, as follows:
PARSONS LETTER.
Dungeon No. 7. Cook County Jail, Chicago,
H., Nov 8, 1SS7-To my darling, precious
little children, Albert r. Parsons, Jr., and
his sister, Lulu Ida Parsons: AS / write this
word l blot your names with tears. We
never meet again. Oh, my children. how
deeply, dearly your father loves you. We
show our love by living for our loved ones
We also prove our love by dying, when nee
essary, for them. Of my life and the cause
of my unnatural and cruel death you will
learn from others. Your father is a self
offered sacrifice on the altar of lib
erty and happiness. To you l leave
the legacy of an honest name, and
duty well done. Preserve It, emulate it. be
true to yourselves and you cannot, then, be
false to others. Be industrious and sober
and cheerful. Your mother-oh, she is the
grandest, noblest of women-loye, honor and
obey her. My children, my precious ones /
request you to read this parting message on
each recurring anniversary of my death in
you, but for the children yet unborn. Bless
you, my darlings, farewell. Your father
ALBERT PARSONS.
THE CROWD DISAPPOINTED.
The letter was something of a disap-
pointment to the listeners. There was
no approach to any of the usual catch
words of the rcvolutionists. 1t was too
plain and fatherlike. Hence the effect
Was not notable. Ut was simply one of
sadness that spread ever the assembly,
to be soon diSpelled. however, by the
opening words of the speech which fol-
lowed. The speaker, William Holmes,
an old friend OF Parsons, struck chord
that had not vibrated for long time.
"Friends and comrades = he began with
animation. 1t sounded like old
times OH the lake front, when
the ''groups" were out in force and the
harangueS were all Of the coming rev.
olution." The effect on the crowd was
instantaneous. They all pricked up
their ears and listened eagerly, but they
were again doomed to disappointment.
The speaker was moderate in his re-
marks until the peroration was reached.
Something more was evidently neces-
sary to round ont the speech with, and,
after comparing ''the movement for the
emancipation of labor'' to all sorts of
shining objects, he wound up by saying
that il would "hame like the
FIRE IN THE BARRICADES
of the city Streets" The expression
caught the audience. Half of them did
not understand a tithe Of the speech or
the meaning of the last sentence, but
the suggestion of force in the words
"barricade" and "lire" aroused burst
of applause. The speaker urged all
present to put their shoulders to the
wheel and help accomplish the work
for which the five martyrs had died.
Joseph Labadie, Michigan anarchist,
who was to deliver the principal speech
of the day, failed to put in
an appearance. There was much
talk Of war and soldiers and glory
in the last speech, which was delivered
by Paul Grottkau, an ex-editor Of sew
eral German socialist papers. His prin-
cipal theme was the '''smallness" of the
working classes that had allowed the