The Savannah morning news., 1901-10-14

and heard such well-known advocates
of the destructive dogma as Herr Most.
Emma Goldman and Voltairine de
Cleyre. One point that struck me for
chilly was the overwhelming proportion
Of foreigners in the audiences: at least
ten to every one American even in the
open air meetings. Most of the few
auditors who looked like Americans
gave every evidence of being present
out of curiosity. 1t is this foregn ele-
ment that is the great danger; and I
was the more surprised that aliens
should be allowed so broad a freedom
of speech.
In Venezuela, as in the neighboring
countries, summary punishment would
have been inflicted upon orators who
had dared to use language half as in
temperate as much of that l heard at
the mildest of the Philadelphia gath
erings. At the least they would have
been seized and thrown into Jail, and
II the speakers were fOregners-as was
the case in notwithstanding would
have prevented riot in which they
would have been roughly handled.
Here even the publication of the
anarchists are under the ban. Not
that there are laws actually aimed at
surpressing them; under the letter of
the law they could be published, so
long as their utterances were guarded
But public sentiment constitutes the
strongest kind of a prohibition. If the
police failed to raid the publication
Office of an anarchistic sheet, the pop
ulace would make short work of it.
That South America, has gained the
Inhhapy-and largely undeserved dis
tinction-of being rife with the spirit
Of assassination is not due to the pre-
valence Of anarchlstic dogmas. At
tempts upon the lives of political rul-
ers in South America have not been
made by anarchists, but have been
usually the result Of the fury of parti-
sanship on the part of some hot
headed individual. Such a case was
the attack on Julio Roca, which re-
suited in landing him in the presiden-
tal chair of the Argentine Republic.
His predecessor, Juarez Celma, had
made himself so unpopular that in 1890
he resigned to escape the public in
dignation, arising from accusations of
malfeasancs in Office. His First Min
ister, Roca, was included in the de-
nunciatons. and, as he held office after
his principal had retired, the denuncia-
ton of nim was particularly violent.
One day several Of the oratorical hot
heads of the opposition met and har-
angued each other in a grocery store.
The discussion went beyond the limits
of moderation and rash measures were
other well, and felt that there was no
danger in expressing opinions which
none Of them would have carried out in
acts. But there was a listener who
didn't appreciate this; a 13-year-old
grocer's boy. AS the men harangued =,
and grated he grew. more and more in
terested. For several days he brooded
over what he had heard. Then he went
out and bought revolver, walked to
the government house. and when the
First Minister got into his carriage,
there was an unsuspected passenger on
the springs behind Presently the pas
senger lifted the curtains, pressed his
pistol into Roca's back and fired. They
took the boy to prisOn--to begin term
of twenty years-and Roca was driven
home Physically the effects of the
shot were inconsiderable; politically
they were tremendous; for when he APP
peared in public again Roca. the erst-
while hated official, was acclaimed a
hero, and gained steadily in public es-
TEEN from that day, finally being elect
ed president.
Even socialism is banned in most
South American countries. The people
of Venezuela, Ecuador and Colombia in
particular are so strong in their op-
position to the cult that, without wait
ing for the police to investigate, they
attempting to propagate the doctrine.
Pamphlets or papers intoxicating So
cialistic doctrines are barred from the
RAILS Persons suspected of writing in
cendiary matter are closely watched
and when a writer of socialistic ten
dencies comes into the notice Of the
government he receives a letter with
an official seal. In the South American
way it is wondrously polite.
ssNFoek ro~rootad
ut is with much regret that we beg
to direct your atten tion to certain par
agraphs which appeared in an article
written by you in such h-and-such a pa
per upon such such a date. No
cne could find fault with the fiuency of
your style. or the literary qualities of
your composition. But, alas! Senior.
we fear that it is dangerous to the pub
lie veal. The sentiments are incen-
diary. We trust we shall not see the
like again from you. With great as
surances of respect and esteem. we beg
to remain. your devoted servants, etc,
etc"
If the recipient of this article is wise.
he will lay aside the quill he has dipped
in gall and take up one sweetened with
honey. If he is proud, the spirit Of the
letter may evade his mental grasp. and
he continues to disseminate his dan
eerous views.
But not for long.
There is another letter. Respected
Senor," it runs. "Once you have been
warned The doctrines you preach are
in violation of the law. Must you be
warned again? Take heed. We beg to
remain, your devoted servants, etc,
etc"
Not many instances are on record of
third warning. Such as they are, they
comprise entries in the criminal court
ledger
This is South Americas way with an
archy. Perhaps It will be North Amer
ica's way. too, before very long.