New-York tribune., 1901-04-14
NUNEASY LIES THE HEAD"
SUGGESTIONS TO MITIGATE THE HARD
LOT OF MONARCHS THREATENED
WITH ASSASSINATION.
From The Spectator.

From The Spectator.
The problem is to prevent man in the street
from reaching the king either by bombshell bull
let knife, and experience shows that ii is
nearly, if not quite insoluble. Bullet proof car
riages of avail against dynamite cart
ridges the king be deprived entirely
either of air or light. one would have thought
an escort which rode close would he sufficient
security but either it is not or the kings find
such escorts all occasions wearisOme and
hamperihg beyond endurance. Disguise is out
of the question. for reasons of dignity. The use
of the dagger can. think be prevented. either
by extreme watchfulneSS on the part OF the
kings companions by setting OrderIeS to ride
close up to the carriage steps by CromWells
device. the wearing of shirt of mail. which can
be constructed of aluminium rings. and
need not therefore be intolerably heavy.
The best precauton of all. however. is perhaps
very rapid travelling, as not one man in fifty
can measure pace to be sure of hitting
mark that moves at twelve miles an hour. This
was Napoleon's device. and he kept his life,
though whole groups of men eager to
sassinate him. and laid with that end the most
elaborate plots 1t because he suspected
the Bourbon princes of paying for such plots
that he murdered the Due dEnghien lin repri-
sal" Swift driving is said to be the device also
of William ii. and if protects him he is clearly
bound to continue it. A king in modern State
has right to defy assassination than he
has to intliCt any other useless misfortune his
people. He must not shrink in battle because
that dispirts his armies, but for man in his
position facing aSSaSSinS is not courage, but
foOlhardnesS.
king, however cannot always be galopins;
and there Will always remain element of
danger in his position. which is best minirnized
by availing himself of the special liability of all
intending assasSins to be betrayed. The good
among the party of action" suffer from qualms
of conscience. the bad know they have Il secret
t. sell which is worth much money. 1t is only
the fanatics who at pitileSS and nCOr-
ruptlhle. and the fanatics for any cause which
is not strictly religious are always few Still
when detectives have done their utmost the liza
illlty of monarChS to be killed Will We fear al
ways remain and is OF the most serious
draw backs to an institution which. though hard
~ dHt"rSihle by pure reason-muSt of the arglI-
ll"htS Tor IL beng really arguments for gravity
IN politics seems To he protected by some in
stlnCt in humanity which must have a basis in
proved utility. The ultimate origin of that in
Stlh'l, We cannot but presume, is the passionate
desire OF men to he led by one who never can
gam hy treaChery deSerton. Kings have
bc'n guilty OF almost every crime but we can
remember but one in history who ever betrayed
his people for bribe. Anyhow the kings sur
NlVe everything from subjugaton as in Prus-
Sid Il" revolt. as in Spain. and the man who
cpuid devise scheme to make their assassina-
t4hh impossible would do service. to the world
He would return To nonarchs their serenity and
therefore their judicial sense.