The Roanoke times. [volume] (Roanoke, Va.) 1890-1895, 1893-01-01

Absurd Actions of the PolIce-How
Visitors Arc Annoyed.
LONDON, Dec. 31.-The uneventful-
ness of British holiday life has been
shown by tho hullaballoo raised about
tho explosion near Dublin castle. There
is now little doubt that the bomb was
placed near the dectives' Office by som o.
body with private grudge against Syn
not OF one of his colleagues Tho OK
plosion would have received only pass
ing notice hero had it not boon for the
tors at once began to beat big drum
and proclaim with all positiveness that
the Irish had begun another campaign
Of determination against the English
people.
The Gladstonians were driven then to
accusing the tories Of having organized
dynamite plot merely to blight tho
prospects of Gladstonos homo rule bill.
The consequence has been bitter
party feud. during which compa ra-
lively trivial occurrence has been mag
niiicd to political outrage of the first
dimensions. The people of London
might get considerable amusement from
this If the police and officials had not
caught tho infection Of fear and set
about guarding and spying aud prying
in manner unprecedented since the
attempt to blow up the tower. A per-
son cannot even approach the postal
officials to inquire after lost letters
with ont being subjected to an inqu:si-
sion. a man bearing tho stamp OF
Scotland Yard stops him at tho entrance
Of the building to learn his business.
If tho visitor has 4 bundle, DO must
submit to inspection or leave it outside.
ii he hcsitates at all about stating his
business to an apparently unauthorized
official, he must pay for his temority by
giving his pedigree, his residence, his
purpose in visiting London and his
plans for the next six months. At tho
Bank of England every step in tho
building is watched. At ST. Pauls Ca
thodral tourists have boen SO harassed
that but halt the usual number of visi-
tors now venture within it's walls.
Downing street is nest of policemen
in citizens clothes. In WcstminiStor
Abbey, formerly quite FREQ from police
surv eillance, most reputable coun-
try squire cannot pass his after
noon in peace, but must be
Swallowed at every turn. The
custom house and tower have doubled
the force of watchmen formerly en-
ployed. In short, every public building
In the city is guarded as it has not boon
guarded within tho memory Of the
American residents of London.
But one or two more explosions would
be needed TO inaugurate an official reign
Of terror such rs even Paris, with her
Ravachol and Francois, has net known
since 1872. The fear felt early in tho
week that an anarchist colonyin London
might take advantage Of the situation
to set few bombs has been relieved by
tho discovery that the anarchists vino
came this city by the score last spring
from Paris, Bernc and Zurich arc
quietly slipping back to the continent.
Tho agitaJors started FOR Paris on
Tuesday and Wednesday and now tho
less luri3 lights are gradually removing
to tho French capital. Neither the
London nor Paris police are in doubt as
To the meaning of this movement. Tho
explosion at the prefecture Of police on
Thursday was intended by the anarchists
to be but the first gun in hot campaign
against all order and government in
France.
Tho peculiar danger TO Paris from this
campaign comes from nihilistic sources.
The nihilists Of Paris have been waiting
for an opportunity TO avcnge themselves
on the French government for it's sever
ity to the Russian nihilists in 1889, when
it prosecuted and imprisoned several of
thcm for making their bombs within tho
French border. They have money and
influence in high quarters and have,
therefore, such facilities for spreading
destruction as tho anarchists could
never command.
From thpn1 tho M rc n CT m prOruro
gratis all explosives and info rnal ma
chimes desired, as we'll az in formation
as to how tho campaign can be con-
Quoted most advantageously. Several
nihilists arc believed to have been inn
plicated in tho explosion of Thursday,
but so far the police have been unable
to lay hands on them. The nihilists
believe that by overthrowing tho pres
ent government they will not only show
their power and thus warn other gov
ornmenSS against interfering with them,
but also will put an end to the alliance
between the Gear and tho French nation.
The Paris police have made an effort to
conceal the truth, while they work
without success, By arresting tho
Boulangist agent.
The object of this move is to bolster
up the cabinet. Tho police believe that
by attaching the first odium OF the ex
plosion to an anti-government party
they will strengthen, temporarily at
least, the hands of M. Ribot. While
Russia is swinging from France, Italy is
drifting slowly away from the triple
alliance. The latest development Of
this movement is more friendly atti
tude of King Humbert and his cabinet
toward the vatican. In fact, on Janu
airy the government will have a new