The morning call., 1892-04-27
DYNAMIrERs IN FRANCE.

Mondays attempt to blow up the Very
restaurant in Paris, which resulted in the
death of the proprietor and the wounding
OF several persons in the building, shows
that the Partisan assassins are not extinct.
In that great METROPOLITAN city, where all
sorts and conditions of men mingle III the
ordinary friction of life, there has always
existed a small class of desperadoes who
have stood ready 10 engage In deeds OF VIC
lence apparently from pure deyillshness.
Fieschi and Orsini were types of the plain
assassin; they claimed 20 have high aims,
but careful review of the evidence in their
cases shows that they differed from 9th er
men mainly in that they had no moral self
restraint. Why this class of abnormal
creatures should be more frequently found
in Paris than elsewhere it is not easy TO ex-
plain.
The story OF the Ravachol case reads Ike
tale OF a Corsican vendetta. just year
ago, in street fray in Paris police man
was wounded by a turbulent roter The
roter was arrested. and after holly con-
tested trial was convicted. His friends,
chief among whom vas Rayachol, resolved
on revenge. They placed bomb under the
staircase of the public prosecutor and ex-
ploded it. They twice endeavo!ed to blow
up the Judge who tried the case. They
plotted the destruction Of the police station
at Clichy. They laid plan to blow up the
PalalS de Justice at time when il was full
Of people. On March 81 they exploded
bombs in the Rue Clichy. in the Boulevard
St. Gernaine, and opposite the Bank of the
Credit Ly0naise. On information furnished
by Very, the Northumberland. the police
arrested RavachOl and some of his accom-
plices, and to avenge them Eery's building
has now been blown up and himself killed.
The trials of the criminals who perpetra-
ted these Outrages began yesterday. and
there can be little doubt of the result,
though the anarchist party, aided by a
morning newspaper. is doing its best to
intimidate the juries. TIE French are
pretty thorough III their administration of
criminallaw. Failures of justice rarely occur
among them under any regime. Rayachol
ana has accOmplices are within speak
ing distance of the guillotine. But
the frightful nature of the weapon they use,
and the fact that their methods appear to
have been adopted at Rome, and In Spain,
as well as at Paris. are leading thoughtful
men to inquire whether society is on the
right track in its present plan of repression.
That Ravachol and his confederates should
perish by the guillOtins is small matter;
the problem of the hour is how. to check the
repetition Of their crimes by others.
During tie transition period from the
absolute to the constitutional monarchy in
France, diSorganizaton was so universal
and society was in such disorder, that the
reign of terror and the subsequent mad
rage for war and conquest were after all
natural products of the pending fermenta-
ton. But France has enjoyed order and
regular administration for three-quarters of
a century For twenty years it has had a
full measure OF liberty and equal rights.
There is 20 flaw in The system of govern
ment which majority Of the population
cannot rectify at the polls. Opinion is free,
and within the limits which are required By
a proper respect for the rights of others
action is free alse. 1t is quite remarkable
that under such a system appeals to reck-
less violence should occur as frequently as
they do IN countries where absolutism leaves
no other vent for popular aspirations.
The anomaly must be kept in mind by
those who Try 10 explain the acceptance Of
so preposterOus a scheme Of government as
the Third Empire BY an intelligent people
like the French. They accepted Louis Ma
poleon as Emperor because they felt that
despOt as he was he was strong enough 10
keep The RayaehOls Of the period under his
heel They are now watching to see if the
republic possesses equal strength. If n.
Garnet and his colleagues lay 50 heavy a
hand on these dynamiters that their ad-
mlrerS are scared into respect for law and
order, the republic will have every prospect
of long life. If they show signs of weaken
Ing, or palterng with anarchy. another
Boulanger may arise to try to set back the
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