The Washington times., 1901-12-06
McCOMAS FLAYS ANARCHISTS.
Marsin senator Calls for Prompt
Legislation.

Maryland senator Calls for Prompt
Legislation.
The opening gun in the fight to be
made against anarchy and its disciples by
! the Fifty-saventh Congress was fired yes
terday by Senator McComas of Maryland
| in stirring speech on resolution intro
| duced by him on Wednesday. With the
| recent assassination Of President McKin-
| ley as his theme. and with the sym
pathy OF the entire upper body the
statesman made a powerful and impress
sive plea for the protection of all Presi-
dents Of the United states. and for the
punishment of those who dared to raise
hand or weapon against them.
| This was the text of his speech:
ANY person or persons who will
| fully Kill or assault with intent TO
kill the President, or the Vice Presi-
dent. or both. any officer upon
whom the powers and duties of the
Office of President may devolve, shall
be punished with death, the Federal
courts to have jurisdiction of such
offences.
Appropriately enough the first attempt
at oratory by any member of the new
Congress was plea for the eXtermina-
| tion Ct the breed cf which the slayer of
President Mckinley was member. The
| galleries we're crowded by nen and wo-
men, who were attracted by the notice
given on Wednesday. and from the first
paragraph to the closing sentence, the
speaker was followed with the deepest
interest.
! Senator Hoar Of Massachusetts created
| something Of a sensation by following
| Mr.. McComas, and recommending legisla-
| tion by all civilized Governments for the
| determination OF anarchists. There should
be an island chosen by international
| agreement. he said, to which all persons
protesting the creed should be deported
| and compelled to associate with those
whose thoughts were in harmony with
theirs
In opening, Mr. McComas paid this
tribute to the late President: "A ruler
at once so gentle. so strong, so serene. SO
wise, the world had never known. A
brutal anarchist, of Polish descent. slew
that President whom all the people most
loved and who most loved all the people
Anarchists are in all our cities They
claim the right to kill They in turn must
be killed by the State that they would
destroy. They are wild beasts aud fanat-
les. Congress must lesislate against This
new peril with eouragr, and with firm
ness.
'Anarchism's chief object is the over
throw of government by violence Oar
Government was constructed by the peo-
pie who supported it; by liberty and JUS
tice. Until these separate, it can never
fall.
THE great body of the plain people,
whom Lincoln loved and upon whom Nc
Kinley leaned, are its unfailing defend
ers. This great people, facing the hid
eous peril of anarchism, taught by their
sorrow to think right and see clear. now
rate more highly than ever the value OF
their Government.
anarchists deride patriotism, the old
est of virtues. On no other call have the
youth Of country with such welcome
met death under the flag, the land it
loves. This hideous creed of crime can
never live in this land. 1t must be stamu-
ed out now and forever
Senator acComas referred to the num-
Der of assassinations by anarchists during
the past seven years and then declared:
Anarchism is one OF the worst errors
ever urged among men. II is entirely con-
tradicted by human nature and the facts
of life. 1t is an error that may long en-
dure. II is not political principle. Ii is
a cult Of crime.
If anarchists spread their opinions by
writing and discussion only the evils may
be endured. but the criminal propaganda
OF action must be met by all the re-
sources of government. Arguments en-
phasized by throwing bombs into theatres
and cafes and killing Kings and Presi-
dents must be met with condign punish
ment.
When anarchists appeal TO force they
must be met with force. They arrogate
to themselves the right to kill They in
turn must be killed by the State they
would destroy. The severest legislation
is not the wisest
Punishment does not deter these fanat-
les. who regard punishment as martyr
dom. Many Of these wild beasts seek no
toriety and indirect suicide by commit
ting other crimes without scruple to Sc
cure their own death by other hands than
their own
Mr.. McComas reviewed In detail the
provisions of his resolution. No action on
the bill was taken yesterday and it still
remains on the table.
SENATOR l1oar was then recognized ana
said that while he thoroughly agreed with
almost all that Mr.. McCOmas had said,
his own idea was that the best remedy
against anarchy would be the setting
apart. by the agreement OF all civilized
governments, of an island or other tract
to which all anarchists should be deport-
ed. Death had no terrors for anarchistic
assassins, he said; they went to their ex-
ecution as readily as Christian martyrs.
At 2:3G the Senate went into executive
session and after some debate the nOmi-
nation Of William Dudley Foulke to be
Civil Service Commissioner was con
irmed At S;45 adjournment was had un-
til Monday at noon.