New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1894-05-13
WORSHIP OF ANARCHISTS.
A STRANGE ORGY OF OBSCENE BIAS
PTIEMIES.
Paris, April 20.

PTIEMIES
Paris April co.
A strange sort of religious veneration Of the
dead heroes" Of the Anarchist movement has
been growing UP among the groups during the
last two years. Until 1887 the only outward
symbol Of the comrades was the black flag. such
as Louise Michel displayed the Esplanade
des Invalidos when leading the attack on the
bakers shops Of Paris and the only picture Of
the party was a placard-llke portrait represent
ing the same Louise Niche. life size Prince
Krapotkin was then occupied along with Esee
Rcclus In directing the publication of La
R6voltc" the chief Anarchist review. With his
Slav Imagination and his remembrances OF the
Use Of holy pictures among his coun;rymen in
Russia. he began circulating two finely en-
graved portraits Of Bakunln. the founder Of An
archy. who died in 1876, and Of Proudhon, its
Socialist precursor, who first proclaimed that
property Is robbery" The engraving was
done by Barbottr. the artist who made a sensa-
ton in 1882 By taking to himself one OF the
two daughters of Esee Reclus. in that public
free union which has the place Of marriage In
the Anarchist system.
There was nothing very inspiring in these ex-
ampes Louise Michel. who Is a kind OF sister
of charity turned Anarchist, is too much alive
to be an object OF veneratton. Bakunin. until
ne was fifty years old. gave good reason TO sup
pose that he was emssary of the Rus.
sian Government among the rcvolutonis,s lie
was condemned to death three times after lSiS:
by Saxony, from whose government Austria
claimed him; by Austria. who obliged to
surrender him in turn to Russia; and by Russia
herself Russia. however. did not carry out the
sentence. but sent Bakunin to Siberia instead,
whence he escaped easily. The latter part OF his
life taken up with a violent struggle for
power in the society Of the In.ernationalc
against Karl Marx Bakunin succeeded in de-
stroying the Internationale. and in starting a
movement which orarchcd out into Nihilism in
Russia and Anarchlsm in western Europe Then
he died in his bed having kept a whole skin by
clngng 10 his refuge in Switzerland. Ellsee
Reclus took Bakunin's place in the movement
Prince Krapotkin was graduated from Nihilisn
into Anarchy through exile and prison walls,
Ill he found his present safe refuge in London.
These two guaranteed the heroic character of
Bdkunin, and the comrades were bound to be
content. Proudhon. who wound up his career
= attempt 10 enter the French Senate like
any other bourgeois. did not matter SO much
lie a decorative figure for party sadly in
need Of ancestors
ON November II, 1887, some hing aitoge her new
happened to the movement Four Anarchists
were actually hanged in Chicago for the explo-
sion Of Il bomb in C ovid Of policemen many
months before. Two comrades who were
skilled artists but did not to sign their
names. at set t. work on an engraving
which should keep forever in mind these first
Anarchist martyrs" From gallows set in the
sombre walls OF prison court the four victims
hang. robed IN flowing white shrouds. Against
the wall Is the placard Chicago" with their
names and the names Of the Two associates whose
sentence was commu,ed TO Imprisonment, and
that Of the seventh. who succeeded IN using
dynamite on his own person by a bomb hid in
a cigar before the sentence could be executed.
Below, under the Inscription Unto DEATH"
flames rise from tripod. bringing out the sway
ing figures in relief against the surrounding
gloom. In the shadows of the foreground men
with lifted hats. women and children stand
rcverently. The artists. however, have not quite
caught the spirit OF the .ew religion. Before
the fire Of the tripod they have placed figure
ROBBED like some officiating priest. This was not
calculated 10 please comrades who admit 10
authority or distinction II individuals. and whose
commonest watchwords are Neither faith nor
law" Neither God nor master" one Of the
Anarchist leaders said regrctfuy: IF it had not
been for this blunder might have spread
hundreds Of thousands OF this picture among the
comrades OF every country. 80 that the sight OF
their martyrs might keep their zeal always burn
ing"
The anniversary Of the death OF the Chicago
martyrs" has been kept along with that Of the
Communists slain in 1871 in Paris. Even the
Dutch Socialist pastu' Domela Ncuwenhus. has
preached the panegyric on such occasions.
In 1855 the "Perc Pcin4rl" was founded as
popular journal written IN the argot OF Partisan
workingmen and devotng one full page 10 some
caricature OF society as it is. Some OF the most
powerful lmpressionis artists and illustrators
lent a hand. men like Ibels. Pissaro. Luce and
W.llette \ few OF these caricaturcs brought
ont the religious element which was now gain
i.g ground in the movement This has nothing
10 do with belief in the immortality OF Anarch-
ist souls; II Is simply material worship of the
Anarchist dead.
In one OF these strong rude cuts Queen Chris
tina Of Spain starts from her bed TO gaze with
horror-sricken face at the apparition Of tho four
Anarchists garroted In Jerez. These. also. are
ROBBED in white. with light shining on their faces
steadfast in death. Another OF these pictures OF
death at the hands OF civilization represents the
young Emperor William in his favorlte military
uniform and helmet. starting back aghast before
an army OF skeleton men and women and chill
dren that sweep down upon him from the sky
with upliftcd arms and crying from ncshlcss lips.
Bread or Death" \ caricature in the opposite
sense represents a Deputy At his dcvotions. He
stands in the midst of the money-bags which
have been the price OF his votes IN Parliament.
The sun Of Anarchy rising above his strong box
drives him to his prayers. lie lifts his eyes APP
peaiingly to the eXccuuOncr. who stands beside
the instrument Of his trade. and begins The
Iitanies Of u Deputy "-"Sainte Guillotine pray