The Irish standard., 1901-09-28
1t would be an insult to principle to !

claim for the monstrous infamy of
anarchy any devotion to principle,
any standard Of rectitude. This wild
and unreasoning frenzy, that would
presume to destroy the author of the
universe, If it had the power, revels
in riot and glOats over ruin. 1t in
scribes but one motto on its red ban
ner of rage or its black flag of death
namely destruction to all that raise
a barrier to it's devastating march.
1t deserves no pity. 1t merits no con-
sideration ut the hands of liberty's
friends. Its only claim to our atten-
ton is that we render it impossible
Tor the foul viper to exist in our hand.
We are slamed before the nations
OF the world that this death-dealing
monster has been able to do such
| dastardly work in our midst. We SUI
| fered in the esteem OF the world when
the deluded victims Of this horrible
madness were permitted to exult over
the assassination of the king Of Italy
| and the gentle, kind-hearted empress.
| OF Austria. The old world insisted
that the new continent of America
begat and sheltered anarchy in the
| name of human liberty. We sinned
! by our excessive devotion to what has
ever been our pride and most precious
! heritage, liberty OF speech. The na
| ton pays frightful penalty.
The law provides for the proper pun,
ishment of profanity in public places,
and for the use of obscene and indec-
ent Language. 1t must also find a rem
| edy for the repression OF anarchy,
without violating the principle of lib
erty Of speech. A great and liberty
loving nation is surely able to find
means of preventing wanton assaults
on the majesty Of the law, on the
person of the executives of the law,
and on the essential principle of au-
thority, that all must respect. The
people Of this great republic owe Il
duty to the most audacious anarchist
as we'll as to his servue dupes. 1t
is the duty of protecting him against
his own delusions, and of rescuing his
victims from his tolls.
Even the most bold and daring an,
archist must he sheltered by the gen
erous protection of our constitution
and laws.
The wretched criminal at Buffalo
today, foul as is his crime, much as
we loath and denounce it, will be
given a fair and speedy trial at the
bar of public justice. The sovereign
dignity of this great nation demands
that no national crime shall be com
mitted in the just and merciful pun,
isllment OF criminal against the ma
ton. 1t is in no spirit of vengeance
that McKinleys murderer will be
dealt with according to the require,
ments of the law. The authority of
the government must be vindicateu
and the nations horror Of the crime
emphasized, but the criminal wretch
shall be consigned to the mercy OF
God, not to the fury OF frcnzied men,
when the duty Of the law has been
| done.
The administration of the laws OF
the country in justice and mercy,
should be one of the highest evidences
of our advancing civilization and cul
ture. No greater kindness could have
| been done for the murderer Of the
| president than to have rescued him
| from the influence of the anarchistic
horde that have led him to his doom.
| No greater service can be done to the
| country than to make it impossible for
the wild rawlings Of anarchy to gain
any influence among the people. The
cure for this foul disease must be
found in the enlightened conscience
Of the people. Mems liberty is re-
strained when the public health is i'll
danger from the spread OF contagious
I diseases. ALL pleas for personal lib
erty and all claims of personal incon-
venience pass unheeded in times of
serious danger to the bodily health Of
the people. No country can afford to
offer freedom to the spread of con-
tagion and pestilence.
Neither can we afford to permit
the mock heroes of a false claim to
freedom to spread the contagion Of
their destructive theories among the
weak and the unthinking masses Of
the people. The man who denounces
all authority, who condemns all forms
Of government, and who madly cries
out for freedom from all restraint, is
more dangerous far to the public wei.
fare, than the man who brings the
germs of yellow fever OF smallpox to
our shores. The bearer of deadly poi
son to the mind and heart is a greater
menace to the life of the nation than
the most loathsome victim of the foul
est bodily disease. The constitution
is not violated when we adopt most
rigorous measures to stamp out the
one. cannot believe that it will be
violated by Graduating the poison
that maddens mems minds and de-
praves mems hearts.
We must aim to influence men rather
by intelligent persuasion than by force.