Evening star., 1901-09-14
CHOlgOsx Not Alone Guilty.
q Editor of The Evening Star.

To the Editor Of The Evening Star:
In repetition are Impressions established
So the many repeated expressions of sentf-
ment and opinions for some days being
published throughout the country regarding
the attempted assassination of the Presi-
dent are fixing attention upon a social dan
ger in a manner liable to bear fruit II
this aroused public interest in the subject
of anarchism and its relations to truth and
society were to be earnestly directed in a
proper course, much enlightenment and
good would result. The specific event, how
ever. occasioning present interest is of such
ignorant. fanatical perversion Of a half
concealed truth-that attention will be
given to only this phase. while the yet more
important things will be missed.
Modern anarchistic agitation finds some
excuse Of origin IN oppressive rule or too
minute rule Of the powers that be-" Even
In this boasted land Of liberty and at this
late stage of so-called development, blue
laws" obtain. and societies or unions" are
permitted to deny free action and compel
concessions The origin, meaning and ef-
feet OF anarchism are easily explained. The
danger Is more subtle than appears super
hcfally, as Is the case with all half truths
The influence Is Wider-reaching than Is
indicated in the violent demonstrations OF
Ignorant people, who make only the coarser
Interpretation and find expression in vio-
lence. It would require a book. however
to set forth what is thus suggested, and I
desist.
The point would make here is that the
would-be assassin of President MCKINLEY
Is not alone Individually responsible for
the crime. Though his protests were true
that he alone conceived and executed the
scheme, yet Is he not alone In guilt Those
anarchists of larger ability, who have dared
to set themselves up as teachers of men
and directors of society. and in greater con-
demnation- The weak do the violence No
teacher of lawlessness, even though de-
nying violence. should be permitted the
freedom of the country.
But circumstantial evidence indicates di-
rect completely in the violent act under
consideration. Goldman's peculiar con-
duct seems to imply guilty knowledge if
not participation. And other suspicious
conditions have appeared. Not to detail
these, call attention to one or two items
which thus far seem to have escaped the
alert reporters, and put 1t interrOgatfyely
Did Czolgosz originate the rnse of con-
cealing his weapon beneath a handker-
chief? Was not that deliberately planned
in council? It Is not the first instance of
similar ruse. and may have been sug-
gested by previous occasions of anarchis-
tie violence. For instance, when President
Carnot Of France was killed few years
ago the assassin was reported to have con-
ceaied his dagger by a newspaper, which
he carried as though just having patron-
fzed newsboy or newsstand. BY thus
ayerting suspicion position was easily Sc
cured for committing the final act too
quickly to be prevented.
Again, one of the detectives standing by
President Mckinley stated that the man
Just in front of CzolgoSz was excepttonaily
deliberate and chung to the Presidents
hand. and intimated that 1t may have been
to allow the assassin to get ready. And