The times., 1898-09-11
EUROPE STANDS APPALLED,.


Tragedy at Geneva Indicates Whole
sale Annrchistic Plots - Internn-
tfOnnl Authorities RedonbIe Their
Vigilance to Insure the Safety of
European SoyereiEns Assassina-
tfOn of Austria's Empress IN In
direct Blow at Francis Joseph.
Especial Cablegram-Copyrighted
London, Sept 10-The week, which has
been crowded full of interesting events,
eliminates in the news just received OF
the assassination of the Empress of Aus
tria. The terrible irony of fate which en-
throned one queen and murdered another
in the same week has appalled, and
almost stupefied Europe. The tragedy at
Geneva, as far as the public is concerned.
is a meaningless horror coming without
warning. This is not true, unhappily. of
the International authorities whose busi-
ness it is to watch the diseased creatures
who plot against society.
/ have Just returned from the festivi-
ties at Amsterdam and was surprised
to notice there the extraordinary anxiety
and precautions to safeguard the young
queen against fanatical attacks. The
awkward experience of an American cor
respondent, on the morning of the day
of the enthronement, led to the discovery.
He understood that persons possessing
invitations to the ceremony in the church
should go first to the palace. At 10 o'clock
he presented himself at the entrance and
exhibited his invitation card. Gorgeously
arrayed officials bowed Tow and waved
with la and rot
case, on and on, expecting to find his
conferees, and finally reached what
proved to be the queens ante-chamber,
where there was a hustle of high func-
tionaries.
The correspondent approached another
waiting gentleman, who proved TO be u
prominent diplomatist, and explained thet
he feared he had been misdirected. and
asked where to find his colleagues. The
gentleman smiled quizzicaliy. beckrned an
official, and said a few words in Dutch
The latter turned pale with horror and
seized the correspondent by the arm,
which the latter was inclined to resent.
He was speedily conducted, almost hus
tied to the entrance of the palace. where
there was an excited colloquy in Dutch
with the gorgeous lackeys, who also
seemed terror-stricken. The innocent cor
respondent finally received an apology.
and the explanation was made that the
Dutch government had received intima-
ton that the recrudescence of anarc,lical
demonstrations was imminent. and sus-
pected that the queen was the object Of
the plot.
Today's tragedy at Geneva proves that
the warning was only too we'll founded.
but that IL was a mistake in assuming
that the queen OF Holland was the intend
ed victim.
The motives of the miserable wretches
who are turning their hands against wo-
men is at present inconceivable. II is
presumed that ii was intended as an in
direct blow against the emperor, Francis
Joseph, who has d genuine affection for
the empress. She had never been po-
litical figure while the emperors life is
unquestionably more important in the
present history of the world than any
other individual. But, If the object Of
the plot was to precipitate a great war.
which many believe would follow the
death of Emperor Joseph, why was not
he personally slain?
1t would not have been difficult for
determined and shrewd assassin to ac-
complish his purpose, for the Austrian
emperor is free and democratic in his
movements. but 1t is useless to speculate
on the actions of anarchists on a sanely
or malevolent basis
That the Empress of Austria was as
sassinated as the outcome of plot
Matched in Paris or London there can be
no doubt. There is also reason to fear
that this is not the only hideous act con-
templated. Hence the precautions for the
protection of the rulers of Europe which
have been somewhat relaxed for the past
few months are now being redoubled.