The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1901-09-24
MIR. Harris's Suggestions.

W.T.. EtuffIS SuSSesttohS.
Anarchy is the absence Of government. An
Anarchist advocates the destruction of all
governments. His purpose is to overflow
civil society, whether in the form of a de-
mocracy or = monarchy. He holds that an
archy must be brought about by the de-
struction of the rulers and the governors of
all nations. The Anarchists associate inter-
nationally and advocate assassination of
the chief officers of state, alike in this
country and abroad. This is not political
revolution, but cold murder. They killed
the President of the United States, the
King of Italy and the Car of Russia. They
have a world organization and a common
literature to promulgate and advance their
heinous purpose. They advocate and prac-
tice the use of the pistol and the bomb.
1t goes without saying that anarchy must
be extirpated. 1t must be torn out by the
roots and burned out with fire. The ques-
ton 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. 1t 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
CDlltu States tOlllGIS dUlplt pOMCI OH lnio
Nation to do its part. One clause thereof
gives to the President power to make treat
les which become the law of the land when
confirmed by two-thirds of the senators.
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"
y pirate has no country. 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-
fies law as boldly as the pirate.
By the law of nations any nation may
arrest and execute a 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 a pi-
rate. Under this clause, Congress long
since enacted the following statute:
Every person who on the high seas.
commits the crime of piracy, as defined by
the law of nations, and is afterwards
brought into, or found in the United States,
shall suffer death
1t will be observed that the statute does
not require that the crime shall be COM
ilNlCu NlAhAAls VI d60iAASl q tANANCAA " NAIC
United States. 1t is enough, under this
statute, thai the crime has been committed
somewhere in the world, and against a 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 time
it was lawful. A few years afterwards 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 jurisdiction of pris-
Oners accused Of this crime and brought
before them, though the offense may have
been committed in a foreign country, for
the reason that the offense is against in
ternatiOnal law and against all mankind,
and may be punished by any nation. The
trader may be condemned and his vessel
cOnfiscated anywhere. The jurisdiction of
all nations is concurrent. 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 authorized by public
law in the congress of Vienna, in 1915; and
three years after this was reaffirmed by
the congress of Aix-la-Chapelle, and four
years later QS22) in the congress of We
roma, and is now generally held by civilized
nations. " $ . Slave trading is deemed
piracy, and has been declared such in in
ternational conventions"
It will be seen that man-stealing was
made an international crime since the adop-
ton of our Constitution. Thus it is demon
strated 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-
fining and Furnishing a crime under interna-
tional law, not known at the time the Con-
stitution was framed.
The phrase, law of nations" as used in
the Constitution, is synonymous with in
ternational law. VatteTs great work on
The Law of Nations was published in
175S. 1t was the leading authority on inter-
national law at the time our Constitution
was written, and the trainers and states
men or the time were familiar with IL. IN
this great work it 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 a
general custom in force and obeyed. Pr
racy 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 10 prove
that the grants of power above quoted are
not limited TO International offenses as de-
fined by custom or treaties when the Con
s%tttution was adopted, but vest the treaty
making and legislative powers with au-
thority TO define and punish any act which