New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1889-01-15
TIE FALL OF MOST.


The Anarchists are having a taste OF an
archy. and from all appearances they don't en-
ioy it. The trouble Is all about Most, against
whom the shocking charge is made that ne Is
becoming conservative, and that since the
Chicago Anarchists were hanged he has posi-
lively grown cowardly. Most half admits the
truth of this accusation by declaring that he
opposed parade in celebration OF the Chicago
hanging, because his brother Anarchists had a
plan for working up fight, in the midst OF
which he was to be killed, and, If possible. his
heart and other useful organs were to be ex-
tracted while the blame of the whole affair,
including the killing and the eyiscerahon, was
to be thrown upon the police. This was an In
penious conception, and Mosts unwillingness
TO aid in carrying 1t out simply shows that he
is not of the stuff martyrs are made Of. ANY
man who is not willing to allow his intimate
friends to cut his heart out, in the interest OF
universal brotherhood and peace and goodwin
among mankind, is certainly lacking In the
finer feelings, which are supposed to flourish
with peculiar luxuriance in the soil OF anarchy.
But the behavior of these apostles OF ira
ternity is such as to make one fear that there
is no millennium coming after all Most, IN
stead of barring his breast to the blow that was
to make him immortal as martyr 10 the
blessed cause, sturdy resisted all efforts 10
drag him to the altar He opposed all dom
onstrations Of any sort, even public meeting
and fought off the canonization that was eager
ly awaiting him, as if it were something to be
dreaded rather than to be welcomed. The ac-
cusation of cowardice bears rather heavily
against Most. We all remember that when the
police came to arrest him first, they did not
End him at his post, bravely defying the min
ions of the law, but under the bed, whence
he was rudely dragged by the cowardly legs
that had run away with him. Plainly, this
was not the man to consent to have his heart
cut out, among friends, for the sake OF har-
mony, and with view to introducing general
good feeling among all classes.
After this no one need be surprised to be
reminded that Most was so much Of traitor
to anarchy that he had $3.50 in his pockets at
the time he was arrested. At least, he charged
the police with having stolen that amount from
him. This seems to have been, OF all his SINS
the hardest for the other Anarchists 10 bear.
As they remark, with more logic than they are
in the habit of displaying, how did he get that
$50 unless he made it out of his paper? The
thought that some other man has been able to
accumulate $50 out of the profits Of Anarchy
seems inexpressibly CALLING to them, and, prob
ably it does not soothe their irritated feelings
to know, as they must, that the possession OF
$3.50 would, while it lasted, convert any one
of them, not only into a conservative, but into
apacious capitalist, an INSCRIPTIONS iron
handed minion OF the money power. capital
istic vampire, etc, etc. There is one easy ex-
PLANTATION, however, which they seem to for
get. Perhaps Most did himself injustice in his
eagerness to do as much for the police. Per-
haps he lied.
No wonder the members OF the Radical Ar
better Bund have some resentment toward
Most. 1t is said that most Of them learned
anarchy from him in Austria from 1858 to
1879, and now, coming to this country, they
find him turned conservative, and enrolled
among the capitaiistic press, having sometimes
as much as $3.50 in his possession. They are
still full Of the sacred fire which he kindled in
their breasts; but he has grown cold. They
are willing to cut his heart out to demonstrate
the beauties of anarchy, but he churishly re-
fuses to permit the ceremony to go on. They
want an equal division of all his property, and
having none of their own, are willing TO divide
that too; but he prefers to keep what he has,
and is willing they should enjoy the same
privilege. They say that he is greedy, self
seeking cormorant. and he says they are would
be murderers. This is sad spectacle. 1t
suggests one pregnant reflection, however
that it is astonishing how much one years i'm
prisonment and the possession Of $3.50 will en-
large even an Anarchists perceptions Of po-
litical economy.