Wauwatosa news. [volume] (Wauwatosa, Wis.) 1900-1948, 1901-10-19
PROBLEM OF ANARCHY.
A Serious Question Which is Now
Being Discussed in
All Lands

over
The civilized world are discussing an
archis1n, its monstrous evils, and seek
ing methods of curbing or extirpating
this doctrine of assassination. At the
request of the Indianapolis Journal, Ad-
olson c. Harris, late minister of the
limited States to Austria Hungary, and
a lawyer of great ability and wide repu-
,a;ion, prepared the appended statement.
which is wsrtny the careful attention of
men who desire the welfare of society in
general and the continuance of stable
government:
MIR. Harris Suggestions.
Anarchy is the absence of government.
An Anarchist advocates the destruction of
ali governments. His purpose j. to over
throw civil society, whether in the form of
a democracy or monarchy. He holds that
anarchy must be brought ahsut by the de
Strrction of 9irg9sSteFsEand the governors Of
all nations. The Anarchists associate inter
nationally a a34d advocate ASA ssinatiOn of
the chief officers OF state alike in this
resolution, but cold murder. They killed
the President Of the United States, the
King of Italy and the Car of Russia. They
have q world organization and common
literature TO promulgate and advance their
henOus purpose. They advocate and prac-
tice the use of the pistol and the bomb.
br eXtirpated. 1t must be torn out by the
roots and burned out with fire. The ques-
tion is, how to do it: 1t is evident that it
will be hard to do this through local state
laws and local police. No single nation can
do it without the help of others. Ir will re.
quire the united action of the strongest and
most comprehensive powers TO put down
and destroy this crime against society 1t
is believed that the constitution Of the
United States confers ample power on this
nation to do its part. One clause thereof
gives to the President power to make trea-
ties which become the law Of the land when
confirmed by twO-thirds of the senator's
Another clause declares:
THE Congress shall have power TO define
and punish piracies and felonieS committed
on high seas, and offenses against the law
of nations"
A pirate has no county. He Is the en-
envy of all mankind. He flies the black flag
The Anarchist carries the red flag. A pirate
robs and murders on the ocean. An An
archiSt asSassinates the rulers of his own
country with the same horrid motive that
he kills the rulers Of other nations. He de
tes law as boldly as the pirate.
BY the law of nations any nation may
arrest and execute pirate. wherever
found. without proof that he has injured
the, person or property Of any citizen Of
such nation 1t is enough that he Is pi-
rate. Under this clause, Congress long since
enacted the following statute:
Every person who, on the high seas
the law of nations. and is afterwards
brought into. or found in the United States,
shall suffer DEATH
1t will he observed that the statute does
NOT require that the crime shall be com
nlttted within, or against citizen of the
United States; II is enough. under this
statute. that the crime has been committed
somewhere in the world, and against q citi-
zen of some nation.
Such was the law of nations before our
constitution was adopted; and Congress
by this act. simply provides for the punish
ment of piracy, as defined by international
law.
The Slave Trade.
Man-stealing was not an offense against
the law of nations when our constitution
was adopted The citizens of many nations
were then engaged in stealing black men
from Africa and selling them in their own
colonies or elsewhere as slaves. At that
wards the nations, by treaties made man
stealing an International crime like piracy
Speaking Of this crime and its history.
in a recognized authority it is said: Our
Omitted States admiralty courts have iurS-
diction of prisoners accused of this crime
and brought before them. though the Of
rense may have been committed in a for
eign country, for the reason that the Of
Tense is against international law and
against all mankind. and may be punished
by any nation. The trader may be con
demned and his vessel confscated anywhere.
The jurisdiction of all nations Is concur
rent. All the great powers have recognized
this jurisdiction. Eight nations united in
the treaty of Paris to suppress the slave
trade. It's suppression was declared to be
agt3 TrnnS by BHe ana law In the
this was reatfirned by the congress of AK
la-Chapelle, and four years later (1S22) In
the congress Of Verona. and is now gener-
ally held by civilized nations. Slave
trading is deemed piracy and has been de-
clared such in international conventions"
1t will be seen that man-stealing was
made an International crime since the a6op-
ton of our constitution. Thus il is demon
sfrated that our nation may, under the
clause authorizing the lawmaking power TO
define and punish offenSes against the law
OF nations" join with other nations in de
lining and Furnishing a crime under interna-
tional law, not known at the time the con
stitution was framed.
The phrase Flaw Of nations" as used in
the constitution, Is synonymous with in
tteTnational law; Walters great. work on
1853. 1t was the leading authority on inter
national law at the time our constitution
was written and the trainers and states
men of the time were familiar with it. In
this great work II is clearly shown that in
ternational law may be established at any
time In two modes: First, by the long and
ordinary practice of nations, showing n
general custom in force and obeved. ri
lacy Is an example. Second. by treaties be
tween the leading nations on any subject.
The treaty creating the crime OF man-steal-
ing Is an illustration.
Provisions of Statutes.
The revised statutes of the United States
provide for the suppression and punish
ment of this crime. 1t follows without
question that the United States may Join
with other nations in defining and punish
ing other international crimes
Modern diplomacy furnishes other IN
stances, but the above is enough to prove
that the grants of power above quoted are
not limited TO international offenses as do
fined by custom or treaties when the CON
stitution VAS adopted. but vest the treaty
making and legislative powers with an
thority 10 defla ana punish any act which
Is found TO be an international offensr.
speaking to the meaning Of the phrase,
Ofenses against the law of nations" Mr..
Pomeroy, In his lectures on constitutional
law" says:
The grant is full and comprehensive.
and any measures may be adopted under it
which are demanded by the exigencies of
eur international obligations"
IL cannot be doubted that Congress has
power to define and punish any crime that
~ leveied against the peace and existence
or this nation. But We are not n hermit
nation. We are but one member of the
great family Of nations. There is no par
lament Of nations; no general interna
'ional criminal code Our laws define ard
punish international crimes Of piracy and
man stealing Anarchy. as now piactced,
is q crime not less hein0us, but more de-
strrctive to the peace and stability of
governments. 1t Is international in It's or
ganlzation and operation and its aim Is
70 overwhelm all civilized society.