Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1893-11-15

With an appearance Of seriousness that
might deceive such folks as those who pur-
chase silver bricks or invest in Hungarian
oats. Gov. John Pernicious Altgeld once
more comes to the front with declaration
which has 1t that there are no anarchists
in Chicago; no. not one. To the possessors
of common sense the affirmation OF the
snall-bore governor Of Illinois is an an
noyance that either makes them wonder
why the iteration or confirms their quite
general opinion as to the mental weakness
Of the ranting and Unbalanced successor to
many great men. But there are other peo-
pie, sensible, but not given to practically
applying their powers Of Judgment. who
will probably accept the Altgeld statement
as truth. and who may even go TO the Alt
geldian extreme of insisting that there
never was an anarchist in Cook County.
What are the facts? Webster says that
anarchist is zone who excites revolt pro-
notes disorder in a state" Has John p.
Altgeld become photographer of greater
ability than Webster, and has he provided
US with better definition OF the word? No;
he merely gives US the parrot-like repeti-
ton, There are no anarchists in Chicago.
no anarchists in Chicago" What then were
the men who wer. convicted of murderous
participation in the Haymarket riot, and
who were either hung or imprisoned for
their crime? How shall We characterize
those who wrote and circulated the hand
bills that called for the use of armed force
in the work of so-called industrial reform?
What name shall be applied to those who
counseled the manufacture Of bombs who
made the internal affairs, and who threw
the one in the Haymarket that killed seven
policemen. and wounded sixty other rep
70 Of laru nd
title than that OF anarchist BELTS those
who organized themselves into groups"
and therein conspired to destroy existing
social conditions by rebellion and revolu-
ton? For some time prior to the outbreak
In May, 1886. hundreds of residents In Chi
cago had publicly and frequently an
nounced themselves as anarchists, gloried
In the name and plotted for the coming of
the time when their assassinatory doctrines
should prevail. Readers of the Arbeiter
Zeitung-the organ OF Illinois anarchy
know how earnestly was murder advocated
In It's columns The methods by which dy-
Mantle. nitro-glycerine. guncotton, fulmi-
mating mercury, bombs and fuse could be
made and used were openly discussed until
men were prompted to the devilish manu-
facture and finally the fiendish use For
awhile after the execution Of the ringlead-
ers, anarchy was so discreditable and so
dangerous that the towards who had long
preached defiance Of law were silent but
In the course of years and through political
exigency, John P. Altgeld became governor
OF the state. Many millions of Americans
knew nothing Of Altgeld when he was elect
ed. and they might still have been ignorant
as to his existence had he not pardoned
Fielden, Neebe and Schwab, the three sur
wing murderers who were tried with
Spies, Parsons, Engel, Lingg, and Fischer.
since that shameful misuse of the guber-
Material pardoning power Altgeld has been
notorious. and anarchy triumphant. 1t is
but day or two since the released convicts
Joined with hundreds in Chicago who pride
themselves on being anarchists in celebrat-
ing mournfully the execution Of their breth-
rem. who had the misfortune to be hanged
The red flag was waved, and there were
many covert references to the dawnine of
the day when crimson bunting shall be the
popular decoration, when encumberins
statutes will be resolved into poverless
words, and vice be fauntingly triumphant.
The orators and those who applauded them
claim close relationship with the anarchists
OF Europe. who. on the same day. celebrat.
ed the lawful deed that rid Chicago of some
OF Its most conspicuous criminals. And
yet Gov. John Pernicious Altgeld insists
mat there are no anarchists In ChicagoI