Evening star., 1901-09-07
Round Up the Redsl

Secondary only to the solicitude Of the
people for the recovery Of the President is
the general desire that every possible step
be taken to reach the depths of the das-
tardly design upon his life. No adequate
punishment can be inflicted upon the would
be assassin or his accomplices or insti-
gators. But the administration of Justice
demands the fullest inquiry and the most
exact solution Of the mystery which now
hangs over the deed.
In the past one hundred years eighteen
rulers Of countries, besides two royal con-
sorts. have been killed by assassins and Of
these eighteen eleven have been presidents
OF republics. 1t Is true that the specific
doctrine known as anarchism is not always
responsible for these deeds Personal ven
geance has often been the animatine infiu-
ence. Political passion has prompted some
or these assassinations What modern So
ctety knows as "crankism'' covers another
class OF slayers Of presidents and kings
But underneath all these motives lies the
fundamental heresy that the head Of the
state Is an enemy to the under classes and
that his removal Is an act Of humanity and
Justice, pardonable in the eyes OF the su-
preme powers that rule the universe.
The man who shot President Mckinley
seems Enthusiastically to have been inspired
by anarchistic impulses It is as vet un-
determined whether he acted on his own
account or at the instance Of others. Some
OF the circumstances suggest the latter
probability, despite the mans resolute af-
firmation that he is alone in his infamy.
The history Of the killing Of King Humbert
has at once suggested that the red" group
at Paterson Is implicated, but no direct
clues are as yet disclosed to verify this
suspicion. On the other hand, some indi-
cations point to Chicago as the inspiring
center Of the wretch's enterprise
But whether the crime be traced to Pater-
son, or Cleveland, or Detroit, or Chicago,
whatever may be the result of the police
inquiry already being vigorously pushed
In all directions, the people will almost
unanimously demand the extirpation Of
these centers Of infection, which are now
regarded with as deep a horror as are the
breeding places Of the deadly diseases. We
are today cleansing Cuba of it's germs
why should We not clean our own soil Of
those more dangerous parasites, the plot
ters whose half-crazed minds are forever
forming murderous schemes that strike at
not only the hearts Of the worlds rulers.
but at the very vitals OF society?
Our own present experience brings the re-
| sponsibility closer home than ever before.
When In the past European plots have
been traced to America our duty has not
demanded further efforts than a close sur
veillance over the known centers of aRita-
| tion. We could not lightly guarantee to
keep the old world free from danger from
this source The assault upon the Presi-
dent, however. raises question which we
cannot now avoid. Should we not inter-
| vene at last to check. by more direct means
| than heretofore applied. the future assem-
blags and activity Of the anarchists in
these states?
There are two views of this problem. One
holds that 1t Is better to let the reds meet
freely and discuss their designs more or
less openly and having thus located and
identified them to keep a constant watch
over them; the other urges the authorities
| to suppress them on all sides and so drive
| them to cover. there to plot In secret.
| License to speak and print often permits
| venting OF passion and prevents the
wreaking of vengeance. On the other hand,
! judging from the very confession said to