The morning Astorian. [volume] (Astoria, Oregon) 1899-1930, 1901-09-25

Ntneut making any eAuEN 10 VIZ
evidence in defense OF his act. LeoI
Czolgosz, slayer OF Presiden; McNin.
ley. yesterday appeared in court and
sat quietly bv while the formality Of
convicHng him Of murder in the first
degree was gone through with. The
Dispatches say the proceedings did not
interest him TO any appreciable extent
and he heard the verde; Of the Jury
which condemned him TO death. without
the slightest apparent concern. After
all. there is a uage u sadness in the
career OF this misguided young man,
whose crime wiz live in history as one
OF the mos. terrible committed. and II
impresses Us with the necessity FOR
stamping out forever the anarchistic
curse. No doubt. czolgosz was induc-
ed 20 become an anarchist by older and
more experienced persons. Once a mem
Der Of he order" he was subject to
its rules, under which. according TO
the best information obtainable lots
are drawn for the murder OF prominent
men. PERHAPS Cz0ls1sz was selected in
this manner to take the life Of the presi-
dent. for It is hardly probable that he
volunteered to commit the deei. Hav-
ing been chosen for the fisndIsh task.
he was compelled to carry Il out as
anarchis.ic rules con1emn 10 death any
member who fails TO obey orders. Fall
ure TO kill the presiden. wouA have
Resulted in the death OF Czolgosz at the
hands Of some other fend. while the
commission Of the crime meant certain
death for him. In either case his
doom was sealed. The persons behind
this anarchls,ic movement, then. are 10
blame for he crime, and. while Czol-
gosz' punishment will not be adequate.
80 far as ne is concerned the punish
ment Of those who Influenced him
should be equally - great; indeed they
are more to be dreaded than the assas-
sin him'elf Yong and inexperienced.
he was a plant tool in the hands Of
the fiends who plot assassination and
destruction of civil government. Stoi-
cally. no doubt. ne win meet his fate;
without paln-for the electric chair
gives none-ne will pay the penalty for
his awful crime. and the law viii have
been satisfied. But Czolgosz' death IS
not all that should cesult from the as
sassinatiol. The possibility Of further
assassinadons should be guarded
agalns., and the only manner in which
this safeguard can be taken Is the ex-
termination Of anarchy. The ringlead-
ers OF the organization must be ar
rested, and, If convicted Of completely
IN the Buffalo crime, sentenced to death;
II not banlshe1 forever from the Amer
lean continent. Emma Goldman and
her followers. including The publishers
OF the anarchist papers. must be Sc
yerely dealt with, whether or not they
were directly concerned In the plot to
kill Mckinley. II our laws are not
broad enough to make anarchy a fel- /
ony they should be changed Instantly |
and pending this change the police Of
tire nation should spot every anarch- |
ist. so all could be rounded up imme-
dlately Ipon the passage Of the neces-
sary law. The spectacle Of fellow-an-
seeking admission as specta-
tors to the court where Czlogosz was
tried Is a sad commentary upon our civ
ilization, and bespeaEs the need Of laws
that viii punish the cause as well as the
commission Of crime.