The record-union., 1893-11-10
TREATMENT OF ANARCHISTS.

It is of vital importance that the Amer
ican principle should be preserved that
there must be no Limitation to the right
of free speech, except such as falls within
the purview of the criminal laws. The
instant that we grant to any authority the
power to determine what is and what is
not wise to be spoken, written and pub
hshed, that instant we begin the breaking
down Of the safeguards of liberty.
But under criminal codes the people
must define crimes against persons and
property. The definitions must conform
to the guarantees of the Constitutions OF
the States and of the United States, secur-
lug to all the right to enjoy life and lib
erty, and to engage in the pursuit Of hap
piness.
It is becoming very serious question
in this country whether or not it will
be wise to rank the preaching of anarch-
ism along with its violent manifestations,
as crime a menace to the people who
are not of that faith; whether it is not an
infringement of criminal character of
the peace of society, and the right of men
to freely speak and publish their opin-
ions.
Anarchism in its practice operates
through terrorism. It outrages the very
principles of free speech for which it con-
tends and under which it is promoted
from the rostrum, and the printed page,
by hurting the missiles of death against
those who do not accept its teachings.
It breaches, but it applies force TO person
and to property as the penalty of refusal
to accept its dogmas.
The question therefore presents itself,
shall not Governments list the preaching
of the doctrines of the anarchistic socie-
ties among offenses against person and
property and make it punishable with
extreme severity? The argument in
favor of this proposition is evident-the
anarchist himself invokes violence, and
is therefore estopped from complaining if
he is replied to in like.
No appeal to force is exempt from the
penalties of the criminal law, no matter
what the end may be. But the law does
not always wait until there is an overt
act before 1t extends its arm. 1t prevents
as well as Furnishes commission of crime
by penalties. No one may incite to
crime; it is an offense to advise the COM
mission of crime, no matter what the
guise assumed. Anarchism breaches
violence, and justifies it as means to the
conversion of society to its views. 1t
seeks to disguise it, however, under the
plea that the violence is not resorted to
alone to convert, but to punish for social
wrongs and for alleged outrages against
human right. But this is a distinction
without difference; they bring up at the
same post, to wit, that the anarchist con-
stitutes himself the judge and commits
sions himself the executioner.
So that in view of the horrible assassi-
nations at Barcelona men are debating
they shall not so adjust the codes of
society as to class any and all men who
entertain anarchistic views and preach
snarchistic doctrine as enemies to man
kind, dangerous as wild beasts, and to
be apprehended and restrained, if not
executed, for preaching their infamous
doctrines.
If this is to become the accepted rule of
the day; if men conclude that the anarchist
is a human wolf, to be pursued and shot,
but lawfully, the new order of things will
be the direct result Of the anarchical code
and practice. It will not be the out
growth of any disposition to limit the
bounds of free speech; it will be simply
the inevitable outcome of that greatest of
all human rights, the right of self defense.
SHAMEFUL EXHIBITION.
hat tho ,,a;,oo