New-York tribune., 1901-12-04
THE PRESIDENT on Anarchy.

President Roosevelt naturally gives HIST place
in his Message TO the consideration of the great
calamity which so recently devoyed upon him
the duties of the executive office and forces him
DOW TO address Congress on the state of the
nation. His tribute 10 President Mckinley Is
feeling eloquent and just. He gives appro-
PIRATE official expression to the grief OF the
whole nation and its horror of the daStardly
deed and no less dastardly doctrines 10 which
President Mckinley fell a victim Turning
from the man TO the problem forced upon 3tten-
ton by his assassination. President Roosevelt
deyotes large share of attention TO anarchy
and makes some important specific recommend
ations for its treatment. He deliberately faces
the fact that the responsibility for anarchist
murders does not rest solely upon those who
profess anarchist principles. but is shared by
those who spread abroad the spirit Of discon-
tent and defamation, and says:
This criminal was a professed anarchist,
inhamed by the teachings of professed anar-
chists and probably also by the reckless ut
terances of those who, on the stump and in the
public press. appeal to the dark and evil spirits
of malice and greed, envy and sullen hatred.
The wind is sowed by the men who preach such
doctrines. and they cannot escape their share
OF responsibility for the whrlwind that IS
reaped. This applies alike to the deliberate
demagogue to the eXploter of sensationalism,
and TO the crude and foolish visionary who, for
whatever reason, apologies for crime or eX-
cites ameSs dlScontent
The restraint upon those who indirectly incite
to murder in the guise of political opposition
must be applied by public sentiment The
demagogue and the sensation monger carry on
their propa ganda only so long il is popular
and has at least show of countenance from
respectable If only those likely 10 be
stirred TO crime by exctements to aimless dis
content read those excitements they would not
long be published. If the same class alone
cheered and voted for the demagogue he would
not long he in politics. The success of both
depends on other patronage which they too
often are able to obtain. But public sentiment
cannot reach the professed teacher of anarchy,
much as it can do TO stop the preparation of
ignorant minds 10 receive the seed Of his teach
ing He and his creature, the assassin-for the
teacher is never himself the assassin must be
dealt with by law. President Roosevelt recon-
nends legislation along these lines for the sup
preston of this class. starting from the premise
that anarchistic speeches. writings and meet
ings are essentially seditious and reasonable,
and that no preacher of anarchistic doctrines
should be allowed at large any more than if
preaching the murder of some specified private
individual. He proposes the prohibition of entry
into this country Of anarchists or persons pro
"fessing principles hostile to all government
land justifyng the murder of those placed i'll
authority" He would also have them deported
If found here. Then he asks that jurisdiction
be given to the Federal courts of attacks on the
President or any officer in line of succession.
and that the punishment Of an unsuccessful
attempt be proportioned TO the enormity of the
offence. Finally he suggests:
Anarchy is crime against the whole human
race and all mankind should band against the
anarchist His crime should be made an offence
against the law of nations, like piracy and that
form of manstealing known as the slave trade;
for it is of far blacker infamy than either. 1t
should be so declared by treaties among all
civilized powers. Such treaties would give to
the Federal Government the power Of dealing
with the crime.
The first of these proposed remedies raises
the question OF the status of the philosophical
anarchist. who processes principles hostile to
all governments. but who does not urge
Justify assassination. His ideas lodging in the
minds of ignorant and violent men may do the
greatest harm, but il is extremely difficult TO
draw the line between what is academic and
what is seditious. Nor is the professed anar
chist the most dangerous of his class. The
secret potters must be reached well. The
second proposal deals with the punishment of
anarchist crime rather than its prevention.
While not unimportant, it is Incidental; for it
is to be doubted If any penalties will deter the
assassins They always expect to kill and in turn
be put TO death when they attack q statesman
or throw a bomb into a crowd; and has been
seen in Spain. the most rigorous punishment of
, anarchist criminals does not discourage others
from following in their footsteps
| The third proposal is the one which offers the
best hope of repression. This is in line with
| the remedy suggested in the current North
American Review" by the Duke of ARGOS. the
Spanish Minister at WashinStcA. The latter