New-York tribune., 1901-09-16
EYPI4TION.


You would have II so, George Dandin! You
would have it sor' The words were uttered III
comedy They form to-day the burden OF
nations tragedy. The poet of the Last Judgment
depicted the lost as being forever confronted
with the fre-written condemnation, fe knew
your duty, but We did it not.' He who commem-
crates this time of national woe unspeakapie
may without injustice make this arrangement
of the American people: You would nave IL
so,' Upon the nation rests the ultimate respon-
sibility for the tragedy and for the loss whlch
that nation now deplores. 1t Is well TO punish
with the full rigors of the law the petty wretch
whose hand did the foul deed. 1t is well to deal
ont full measure of severity TO all his fellow
conspirators, inciters and abettors IN the dark
ranks OF anarchy. 1t is well to visit with stern
condemnation those-"all honorable men''-whO
for political or personal purposes have preached
or countenanced or patronized the preaching or
the propaganda of hatred. But beyond all these
is the ultimate responsibility of the nation, OF
which these are only tolerated parts You
would have II so, George Dandin!' Now see the
result and offer expiation
Anarchy. a poisonous plant OF foreign origin?
Oh. yes. But who in easygoing tolerance per
mitted ii TO be planted and nourished mere!
Who feared TO vote for stopping degenerate and
criminal immigration lest some political rival
should raise the cry that America was being
made less free and that its doors were being
shut against the oppressed of other lands? You
would have IL sor' The nation would let In the
anarchists and socialists, and would tolerate
their rawlings plottings and indictments to devil
try. The sensational press. which has played
upon evil passions and suggested crime? Yes,
yes But who through patronage has made that
press profitable and has encouraged its wicked
Ap6x hn ha the DrpStige of hon.
ored names and reverend calngs TO the habili-
tation of such sheets and 10 the masking of
them with assumed respectability, and TO
the introduction of them into households where
otherwise they would have remained unknownf
WHY pour all vials of wrath upon the few who
issue offensive publications. and none upon the
many who support them! Why heap anathemas
upon one anarchist or a hundred. and leave
unrebuked the millions who with senseless
prattle about land of liberty have re-
ceived and tolerated these anarchists and have
given them their opportunity? You would have
il so. George Dandn. You would have ii so"'
If that We're ALL But how else has this George
Dandin. seventy millions strong, persisted In
the fatuous course which now has ended in ir-
retrevable disaster? Innumerable brutal lynch
ings in all parts of the land have aroused the
lust for blood and have lightened esteem for the
of lynchers-who are merely collective murder
ers-condemn the individual assassin? In the
largest city in the land heads of government
scoff at enforcement of the law and persecute
those who would enforce II, while they reward
those who break the law they are sworn 10
maintain. With what grace can the community
which chooses and tOerates such a system con-
denim the logical fulfilment Of its own policy Of
disregard for law? All over the land evil speak
ing of dignitaries and playing fast and loose
with law as a thing to be prostituted to any
have been habitual and have run riot without
let or hindrance. And today the natural culmi-
nation of all these things is seen. "You would
have ii so, George Dandinr'
1t is day of pain. 1t Is day of righteous
wrath against the immediate author of our pain
and Woe But above all is the need thai it should
be made a day of national heart searching and
humiliation and repentance and expiaton. The
whole nation has sinned grievously; some
through deliberate malice. some through ambi-
tiOn greed some through carelessness or fool
ish tolerance, some through feyerish sensation
or mushy sentiment. Let the work of punish
ment. swift and inexorabe, proceed But let
penitence keep pace with punishment. Let the
nation make eXpiation for the foes and the
errors which have given to wickedness its dead
ly opportunity. The nation would have it so.
Now that the heavy price Of its faulty has been
only is the reproach of the foul tragedy TO be
removed. and the menace of its recurrence to
be ayerfed