The Wichita daily eagle., 1901-03-06
IO GET ANARCHISTS
Governments Agree Without
Treaty to Give Prisoners Up.
PLAN IS RECIPROCAL
United States Said to be Out
of 1t So Far

Washington, March 6-A recent cable
dispatch announced that the new Italian
ministry will continue its efforts to pro
cure international arrangements for the
extradition of anarchists. In cases where
treaties cannot be obtained, resort is had
to administrative understandings, SO
that anarchists are surrendered on re-
quest as mere matter Of comfy This
Is a rather extreme application Of Sec
retary Hays theory that reaty-nlaking
as a practice is on the decline. and that
something in the naure Of what railroad
managers call a 'gentlemen's agreement
Is taking its place.
The revs rom Italy has started up
Inquiries as to whether the United States
government is included among the gov
ernments asserting 10 such an interna-
h0nal arrangement. 1T can be said posi-
lively that our government IS not party
10 tbs. general scheme. Last summer
here was meeting Of representa-
uyes Of several European governments to
prel are a program Of concerted action.
Th- theory upon which this gathering
proceeded. and on which overtures were
made to the United States in its interest
was that the anarchist is the common
enemy of social order and should be
treated as a mad dog or ravenous beast
of prey IS treated when found at large in
the midst of civilized community.
But 70 this view our government could
not assent. Its constituent members have
not. as individuals. any more love or re-
spect than any other normal men for the
class OF social pests to which the an
archist belongs and as . whole 1t is la
BILE to as much harm at It's hands; but
the safeguards thrown around personal
liberty in this country are considered
more sacred than anything else, and even
lf our secretary Of state held these in
contempt they would be powerless to
prevent their operation.
For example, the first thing an anar-
chist arrested For extradition would do.
would be to sue out a writ Of habeas cor
pus, and the chances are all in favor Of
his finding some Judge who would set
him at liberty. II nothing more distinct
could be proved against him than his de-
votlOn TO q certain political propaganda,
however pernicious the latter might be
in the common judgment of mankind.
In European countries the prevalent idea
IS that nefarious doctrines should be
summarily snufed out. in this country
the fact that public opinion as a whole
condemns them ts considered a sufficient
assurance against their spreading TO a
point where they can menace the exist
ing ored.
There must be observed however. a
very sharp distinction between the apa-
thy cur government shows toward the
case of an anarchist under pursuit by a
foreign government simply because Of his
0dious political faith. an dts alertness
when a man is directly accused Of muir
Ger OF conspiracy 70 muredr Tt took two
unhappy experiences crowded. into the
span of twenty years to brinC our pub
lc men TO a just conception of the crime
Of political assassination. 1t is now
classed and very properly. under the sec
ond instead of the first half Of its title
as INJURED. and not as a mer outburst of
of partisan violence Had Bresci. for ex-
ample fed TO this country after killing
the king OF italy be would have been de-
lvered up 90 the Italian government ash
soon as the latter could have made out
a sufficient prima facle case to convince
reasonable judges. There might have
been delays but he would have gone
back as surely rs HE brieand Esnosito
went 4he assistance lent from Washing
ton % the government of Italy Few
months ago in hunting down The sus-
uected nest 0f e0r-rsr-3 TORS fr N.v- Tor