New-York tribune., 1893-12-31
LAWS AGAINST ANARCHY.
THE DIFFICULTY TASK UNDERTAKEN BY
THE FRENCH PARLIAMENT.
Paris December II.

THE FRENCH PARLIAMENT.
Paris, December II.
When writing my letter on Anarchy IN
Europe' (publtshed In The Tribune OF De-
ccmber y I could not foresee that Few DAYS
later would bring forth an attack on orsah'@eo
society which imperatively demands the atten-
tion OF all the civilized aw-makins bodies OF the
vord. The explosion Of a week ago IN the
French Chamber af Deputies naturally echoes
further than the mere blowing up OF Car IL
sbows that the Annrchist mind In a. little In
agreement with Parliament elected oy univer-
sal suffrage and representing the sovereign peo-
ME an with an absolute monarch who holds MS
PLACE by inheritance.
THE war OF Anarchists. as I explained. IA
.rainst all government Of every kind against
iii authority Of the community over the indi-
vddusl citizen. 1t Is war to such degree that
sach solitary Anarchist may take 1t on himself
90 kill any citizen who In on the side OF tho
v,resent law and order He viii even run the risk
a. DESTROYING his companions along With the
NourSeois lust as a general In open war sacri-
aces his own men to conquer the enemy. Yet X
- but n foolish compliment To Anarchiss 10
speak Of them az waging war on society. Ihc
var n too absurdy one-sidcd. for the simple
reason that the communty's hands are ueo
noubly. First. II II In the necessity OF ac''ns
according TO law since II only Nights for law ana
nrder Judge Lynch can be no real remedy TOT
militant Anarchy. Secondly. action has To De
taken In the midst Of darkness and confusion.
The Anarchists do not declare themselves open'
~: they do not even form associations which
can be dissolved by force of law.
The difYiculty Of repression BY legal means con-
pistx precisely in this that the state IL In pres
snce OF an epidemic Of ideas which vary from
In oh Re
cuunstanoes must have been favorable to Its
spread beforehand The comparative freedom
from Anarchist attempts Of England and Amer
ica IN undoubtedly due In large part to the fact
that the mental. and not the social. conditions
are less favorable to such outbreaks than In
France or Spain. This renders all the more In.
teresting the task which the French Parliament
has set itself to prevent and repress the social
disease OF Anarchy 10y legislative measures
These measures are proposed by legislative
body which boasts Of representing most neari!
the victory Of the modern spirit over the old
regime In tho French Revolution. They deal
with such sacred rights OF man as the liberty
of the press OF speech and of association. ana
they greatly extend the sphere OF police super
vision. They leave untouched the antecedent
ouestion-what ~ II that makes Civilized society
liable to the disease of Anarchy? And they leave
70 the secret diplomatic action OF the cxecuti'e
power the International agreement which VIII
be needed to make any legal repression at nome
effective.
We do not need the sorrowfu, assurance OF
Emile Zola to recognize that such measures a.
insufficient. 1t IL great deal under present
circumstances. that the French State should
talk OF doing even much. The four measures
which were proposed by the Ministry two days
l.A fp nj
laws already existing The first defines the penal
offenses which may be committed ny the press'
the second deals with the manufacture and use
Of explosives: and the third treats Of associa-
tions or understandings with a view to crime:
the fourth strengthens the police power already
in the hands # the government.
II wouti he we'll to study the details of these
measured the text Of which has already been
published, according to the more philosophical
order Of the bill proposed by the spanish
Minister of Justice. This defires briefly: I'd
What is punishable Anarchisn,. whether In Its
manifestations or in the means it uses: CD
what penalties should be imposed for such
punishable offences: - what summary pro'e-
dure may be taken against Anarchists. These
questions are evidently of as much practcai
interest ir the United states and England where
Anarchists I'm the main are only sheltered and
their theories TO deadly practice They also give
q clear order for ideas concerning the severe
legislation existing for many years In Austria,
the doubtful situation OF Belgium and Germany.
and the altogether peculiar danger OF Italy. For
the present purpose it is sufficient TO apply the
first question to these laws which have been
voted by an unhcard-of majority In the French
Parliament.
What Is punishable Anarchism:
90. Evidently not the mere holding OF opinions
bitterly unfavorabie to the present order Of
society. No modern State dreams Of an inQuisi-
tion into the interi ors Of men. Evidently. also.
whatever r. punishable in Anarchism must be
some exterior act that Of It's nature tends 10
trouble Rravely the good order of the community.
and 10 therefore a crime against the public
peace. The principle on which the State would
punish such acts differs instructivcly In differ
ent iegtslations. In the old times Il believe
even now IN Austr.a). and also under a Socialist
r<Etr1e the state would be, considered a moral
personality. with fnl right to punish all who at
tack II in It's organized existence. This justifics
the making a capital crime of treason. ! think
che main objection In the American mind TO this
view OF the present would be that II digni-
des overmuch the attacks society OF few
criminal cranks.
The French Government. for another reason.
considers Anarchist offences simply as attacks
on persons or property having a night to the pro-
lection Of the State. This is In accordance with
the theory. II not with the practice OF the chill
dren Of the French Revolution. which professed
70 secure the liberties Of the individual and es-
pecaally his freedom from State despotism. II
% rather disheartening that the legislation
S&ainst q social crime "A likely to BE- weakened
In practice more even than In theory. by this
sentimental respect for individual liberty on the
part Of men who have carried out ruthlessy the
most absolute measures OF State authority In
regard to such social interests as religion. tho
schools. and the obligation Of military hervice.
The panic fear Of Ar archist explosions is appar-
emily not enough to warrant frank legislation
against the electoral friends Of Radicals and
Socialists IT was pitiable to hear the Minister
~ Isa4o= sx,Io lha4 hn