Fort Worth gazette. [volume] (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1891-1898, 1894-06-17

Private Versus Public Executions and
the f,zrr's Method with NihiiIsm.


Private Versus Public Executions and
the Cznr's Method with Nihiiism.
In European practical politics, or practical
government, whichever we choose to term it,
there seems to be but ono method of dealing
with anarchy; that OF killing anarchists.
Accessory to that arc stern methods OF re-
preston and many means OF annoyance and
persecution for those suspected of being in
fected with nnarchistic ideas, but the ono
great cure Is the swift and stern execution OF
every one connected with an anarchistlc plot
which has eliminated in an overt act OF at
tempted destruction. Tho basc idea Of tho
system Is terror and, to make the terror as
great as possible, it is necessary to strain a
point OF law now and then TO include In the
executions persons who could not BIO con-
yicted on strictly legal evidence; the theory
OF this being that whom the Government is in
danger you should practically. though per-
haps not avowedly, reverse tho rules Of owl
donce and give the benefit OF doubt not to
the wellnigh omnipotent individual who is
believed to havo attacked tho social order,
but to the poor weak. struggling, innocent
and extremely useful Government, on the
continued existence OF which In Its present
shape the dear people necessarily depend
for their lives. fortunes and sacred honor
So far the syst, n has not been extremely
successful. Anarchy is undoubtedly increes-
ing, and this fact is met b. q theory that tho
anarchist who proceeds to an overt act is a
misanthropic individual, whose great love OF
notoriety ovcrcomes his fear OF death, and
that tho notorioty of the executions therefore
tends TO increase tho number OF overt acts.
We arc now told that france aud Spain have
both at the s,me time hit upon tho same
method of meeting this unexpected condi-
ton, and that plan is to have tho executions
as quiet as possible. Henry, tho French
ANA ,hlst, was brought out at four o'clock on
Monday morning and quietly guillotined, at
Paris, and at the same hour OF tho same day
six Spanish anarchists wero brought out at
Barcelona "and as quietly shot to DEATH
Evidently, while other nations have been
experimenting on smokeless powder the
Spanish government has invented noiseless
guns, and this shooting match at human
game at four o'clock In tho morning, at
which a platoon Of soldiers discharged their
rifles more than once, was ''as quiet" as tho
gliding stroke Of the knife at Paris. But
passing this trine, it is triumphantly stated
that "Thoro is absolutely nothing alluring to
the notorlety hunter In this mode Of death.
Napoleon said that he had not often met
with three o'clock In the morning courage.
To be wakened at that disgusting hour and
brought out to be killed, when between
slcepiness and fear no has forgotten his
speech, and when there would DO nobody to
hear it but fow sleepy reporters, is fate
from which any anarchist would shrink"
1t must be confessed that this reasoning
has somewhat limping gait. The event
proved that Henry had four o'clock courage
and this was also true OF the Spaniards. The
chance OF proving such people towards by
making the hour of execution earlier, is ex-
ceedingy small, and II the proof We're really
obtained, its value may we'll be doubted. The
man who would deliberately face tho odds
that tho revolutionary anarchist prepares to
meet would never believe it possible that the
hour Of the day or night ut which he would
be done to death could make him coward
He would do his deed just the same for all
that.
The theory of quiet execution in such a
case is just as illogical as that the bravery OF
courage of revolutonist turns upon the
hours Of tho night, The chief end OF the ex.
ecution is to strike terror into other royolu.
tionists. To that end its horrors should
have the widest possible publicity. This,
however, is the very thing that has thus fan
utterly failed.
The same excellent authority from which ]
have already quoted says that the anarchists
ARE elrcumyentcd with Increasing efficiency
as the qualifications OF anarchism extend, and
with them increases the facility of getting
police spies into their councils and OF bribing
the weak-kneed anarchists to turn informs
ers." From this it would clearly appear
that anarchy is increasing, and that as 1t in
ereases 1t can be more easily circumvented
80, of course, smallpox can be more easily
circumyentod tho more its qualifications ex.
tend, because when 1t Is everywhere We can
spy it out with less difficulty.
Russian nihilism is akin to anarehism in
that IT is also IL revolutionary force. The
Car has fought it for many years, and mas.
much as no has not yot been commlnuted
like his father, he may DO said to be a sue.
cessiu sovereign. Tho mysteries OF Siberia.
no trial, no Publicity, everlasting oblivion
are his answer to nihli. m. What a pity that
all tho other powers cannot trade on ali their
suspected anarchists TO the Ga.
FLANK WELLS.