BoletiÌn mercantil de Puerto Rico. (San Juan, P.R.) 18??-1918, 1901-12-14
The American Pharmacy
rs AGAIN LOCATED AT
- 2S FORTALEzA.
Tb9 TALKING Anarchist.

Judging by the congressional discussions
OF anarchy, it will be some time before
majority opinion settles upon the most effec.
tive kind of remedy. There is little or no
disagreement as to what should be done
with an anarchist who kills or attempts to
kill the President or vice president. But
our Legislators are looking for preventives as
we'll as pupishments. Death, deportation,
isolation on an island, imprisonment for a
term of years all these are brought forward
in a somewhat irregular way as penalties
and in somewhat uudiScriminating scheme
of vengeance with which, it must be admit
ted. there is much public sympathy. Senator
H0ar said yesterday JlIaE MS own IDEA OF the
best remedy would be the setting apart by
agreement of all civilized governments of a
place to which all anarchists should be de-.
ported. Perhaps he did not mean to include
the anarchist assassin who has translated his
theory into fact, but merely those who are
waiting their opportunity. There is much
in Senator Hoar's idea to commend it, but
the only way to make it effective is to cen.
ire attention upon the anarchist who talks.
We have little sy mpatby with legislative
remedies based upon the notion that the
anarchist cannot be got at because of his
secrecy. These people have their under.
ground dens, of course, but they go there
after telling the whole world what they in
tend to do. Nature supplies US with a
pertinent illustration in the rattlesnake. He
rattles before he strikes, because, in the
words Of the lamented DR.. Isaac Watts, sit
is his nature to-" His rattle partly neutral
ICES his fang, just as tongue aud intent are
continually at cross purposes with the anar.
chist, or at least would be ii his tongue,
instead OF his will, " ere taken for the deed:
To deport the talking anarchist would be an
unerring way of applying to these criminal
Utopians the principle Of the greatest good
to the greatest number. In their garrulous
tongues. quivering for notoroty, they carry
a badge that ought to serve the urgent pur-
pose Of herding them together. But depor.
tation from this country to another would |
only be partly effective. Anarchy, as both |
Senator McOomas and Senator Hoar insist, ,
is an international menace, and there is no
reason why our attitude should be detached
and selfish. We could quickly deport to
The country of origin offenders who have
assembled here in clubs and talk or write and
1efy all government; but why should we aid
n circulating counterfeit coin abroad after
We have got rid of it9 Some Of it would be
ure to return, and we would have o sort of
endless chain to provide for, and part of it
lue to our own fault.
OF course, tits natural to expect that
here will be short lull in the various
anarchist coteries after such tragedy as
hat at Buffalo. These short silences are
'nly the post-deglutitory rest Of wild
'east after his meal, and the hunger for
lotoriety would soon set men, for example,
Ike the Paterson anarchist talking again
With most inviting opportunity for the
urposes of a stringent deportation and
law. There is nothing utopian
. the scheme of an island such as described
y Senator HUar. 1t was fortunate that
sCas mentioned in the Senate amongI
ther legislative proposals. We ought to
It all civilized governments know that their
sril in this respect is ours also, and that
10 impartiality with which anarchists select
eir victims among rulers is an excellent
ason why we should join in common
heme Of defense. And the island scheme
just as practicable as any other. Thel