Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1893-06-27
RELEASE OF THE ANARCHISTS.
Editorial Opinions on Gov. Altgeid's Act o
Clemency.

nLLEAsE ANAbC
Editorial Opinions on Gov. Altgeld's Act of
Clemency.
CHICAGO, June "a 27.--Commenting on the pardon
OF the anarchists the Times this morning says
they did nothing. SO far as calm-minded men
could discern, to deserve death or imprison-
ment. and the governor in giving them their
freedom has exercised an act which appeals TO
every heart imbued with love Of mercy
The Record says: at may be that the peni-
tentinry has effected the end for which It is in
theory established, and that these men are in
deed penitent and worthy Of restored liberty
and citizenship. 1t may also be that the ex-
ample of their punishment has borne its best
possible fruits and taught its deepest and most
lasting lesson. IL all this is So rigid justice de-
manded their liberty, just as it demanded their
incarceration nearly six years ago.
1t is unfortunate. however, that
the governor in liberating these men
predicates his action upon an accusation
of unfairness in their conviction Even if he
believed this to be 1t would better have been
left unsaid. 1t may find other believers and
NAV awaken bitterness and resentment for
imagined wrong.
fulilment of the governors ante-election
promises and will not draw friends either for
himself or for the anarchists from the rank and
file of the American people who love their
country and believe in law and order.
The Globe says doubtless many will condemn
prove the righteousness as well AZ establish the
justice of his great act of official clemency.
The Tribune this morning has the following:
The anarchists unveiled their monument to
Spies and Parsons few days too soon. The
monument was unveiled Sunday, and yester-
who have been in Joliet since November Of
1887. 1t was generally understood that they
were to be let go in the event Of Gen. Atgelds .
election. The anarchists believed that
he was not merely an alien BY
birth but an alien by temperament
apparently not a drop Of true Ameri-
can blood in his veins. He does not
reason like an American, nor feel like one.
He did not approve Of the result Of the
trial held before Judge Gary, and for
that reason the anarchists and half-baked
they had an opportunity. They voted for him
for judge and for governor, and
they have their reward. There are many
who will feel that il was wrong
to commute the sentences Of Fielden and
Schwab if the consequences were to be such an
Gov. Altgeld. We cannot feel that the
brave fellows who lost their lives
in the Haymarket massacre have been
remembered as long or gratefully as they
should be when two at least of their murderers
are turned loose upon the community after q
scant term of imprisonment.
New YORK, June 27.-The Tribune and the
Herald are the only morning papers that COM
mented editorially on the pardoning Of the
Chicago anarchists. The Tribune says:
"Gov. Altgeld of Illinois has assumed q re-
sponsibility of the gravest character in pardon
| ing the three Chicago anarchists who have been
undergoing imprisonment at Joliet His
reasons for 80 doing will not bear examination,
although he has set them out Al
great length. That the anarchists had
fair trial and were justly condemned is the
universal opinion Of Americans whose opinions
are worth regarding. Moreover, the case wa
carried TO the Supreme Court Of the nation and
| the findings of the state tribunal were upheld
1t is late in the day for Gov. Afgeld TO CONF
| forward with the assertion that they we're no
fairly treated and that Judge Gary manifested
prejudice against them"
The Herald saws: The snnouncsment tina,
all the Chicago anarchists in the Illinois STATE
prison have been Internationally pardoned By
Governor Altgeld is well calculated to startl,
the p1blic.
Not less extraordinary are the reasoni
given for this action. These constitute asweep
ing arraignment OF court, jury, prosecutor,
and police for. what Governor Atgeid consider,
an unwarranted conviction Of the anarchists
| That conviction he treats . scandalous out
rage on justice. 1t is strange that Gov. Alt.
geld. who has been In office six months, has Jus
| made this amazing discovery. 1t is more re
markable that il not made by any OF hii
predecessors during seven years, nor by eithe
| the supreme court of Illinois or the Suprem
| Court of the United States both Of whicl
| affirmed the conviction.
| ANARCHY in this country never received
more deadly blow than when Justice was metet
| out to the diabolical bomb throwers who terri
fed Chicago some years ago. 1t is no time Il
silence the warning then given to anarchists
now that the cable almost daily brings new
rope, and we even read of a monument to an
archy just erected in Chicago"
The afternoon papers say:
| Erefing Wortd-Gov. Altgeld OF Illinois i
added to the list of men who will be remem
bered for something they ought not to hav'
done.
Erening Sun-Gov. Altgeld thinks 100
words will be enough to justify him to the Law
abiding citizens OF Illinois in overriding tn
DEGREES of courts and jury with a documen
that will be received with acclaim only by tn
enemies of law and order.
The Post-Gov. Altgeld's reasons for settin
the verdict aside are even more astonishin
than his action itself. He sets these forth in
and angry arraignment of everybody con
cerned in bringing anarchists to justice. Il
fact the document reads almost as il the gov
| ernor himself were an anarchist 1t show
very clearly that he has always been in sympathy
with them and has improved his first oppor
tunity to nullify the courts which did not agre