The evening times. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1895-1902, 1901-09-20
Circulation Statement.
The Duty to suppress. Anarchism.


crash Of the burial voleys. and the sad
wailing notes Of the bugles as they
sounded taps" all that could be done
by nation and home folk in honor 10
the remains Of the late President Nc
kinley was accomplished. A great and
good President has fallen by the hand
Of an assassin. but the Republic he low
ed and served survives to revere his
memory. and to continue in the path Of
duty and destiny that he was largely
instrumental in marking out for it,
There is one duty. and a most i'm
peTative one, which faces the American
people. and is not a legacy from his
policy, but from his bloody grave. It
is the duty of undertaking TO solve the
problem Of anarChism, as a force which
threatens the very foundations Of our
free American institutions and civiliza-
ton. II is one the more difficult to treat
intelligently and 10 solve effectively,
because ii has been sprung upon US 50
suddenly and astonishingly that the
country is unprePared by any previous
experience touching its own safety. TO
handle the subject with wisdom born of
NAANAN oNAAF anu AtL thLlthh 4tAEe- IIlbL
10 the assassination OF the late Presi-
dent, there were few people in the
United States outside Of the anarchists
themselves. who believed it possible
that any man or organization, no mat
ter how much opposed 10 despOtic or
monarchical governments, OF resentful
Of the social order of Europe. could be
crazy or vile enough TO seek the shelter
Of our laws and enjoy the liberty and
opportunity our material conditions af-
forded. and then attack the land that
gave them bread and the chance to at
tain that comfort and competency i'm
possible in other parts of the world
through the person Of the nations Chief
Magistrate We have had a sad awak-
ening. and a hideOus object lesson
Shall we heed it,
In a day. the people of this Union
have been brought To realize that an
archism. which is breeding with YER
min rapidity in the slums Of our great
cities and manufacturing centres, Is as
deadly an enemy TO government, law,
and order in the United States as it is
to the crowned heads Of Europe. In its
kDAlN1 tL IlDelt-~o lDh+dlQ TIE goal IL
seeks through terrorism. we have seen
il strike down a noble man against
whom it had no grievance. and for
whom IL entertained no personal dislike.
But in the highest sense. Mr. McKin-
ley represented the strong arm Of the
law voluntarily created by a free peo-
pie for their own guidance and govern
anCe. and because anarchism would
destroy all government. all aw, and all
authority. he was selected as a victim,
that in his cruel murder the world
might know that the anarchist knows
no difference between the rule Of an
oriental despOt and that Of a represen-
tative democracy.
The challenge should be accepted. A
few days ago one Of the leading Lon
don papers. in substance. said that now
the American people had their object
lesson in anarcEism. they might be ex-
pected 90 take measures for stamping II
out which would reflect their customary
direCtness and good sense Such ex-
pectauons, it is 10 be hoped. we shall
be able 10 meet. The danger which
threatens not only our political but our
social institutions. including those Of
property and the family. must be faced
without delay. 1t does not matter that
reducing the necessity Of discriminating
anarcEism, and driving anarchists from
our midst 90 a concrete proposition.
there may be now no way under Fed
eral law OF the national Constitution
70 accomplish the object II need not
depTess US 10 reflect that, for the mo-
menJ fOrty-nve sets Of varying State
laws perhaps would have TO be invoked
20 combat the disease in as many Amer
lean CommonweaIths,w while the general
Government stood by in the attitude Of
q helpless spectator. With the ashes
Of the martyr but just consigned 20
earth. and his assassin still pollutine
the free air Of the country with his
filthy breath. IL is not a time for justice
10 be halted by any non possumus ar
EumcuL If Federal laws can be enact
ed 10 meet the necessities Of the case
without an amendment 20 TIE COustitu-
ton. that should be done. II an amend
meut bee Imperative, the sooner it shall
be secured. the better.
What we most need 20 consider now
IS the end we wish to reach. Ways and
means can be found readily enough II
the people and their representatives 50
Will And the end is the eradication Of
anarCEism and the elimination Of an
aTChists. II a way could be made clear
by which the latter could be seized and
depOrted the former would disappear
To this proposition II Will be objected
that any attempt at suppression would
put stop 20 outward evidences Of an
archism. that anarchists would work
IN absolute secrecy. and conceal their
opinions from public view. hence. that
We should have a secret instead Of an
open Zoe 10 deal with. The obvious an
Ewer To such an objection is that an
arcEists cannot plot except in groups
and cannot ind means for the prosecu-
ton Of their hrlIish designs without
carrying on propaganda and through
II deriving revenue. without some
knowledge Of their persons and move
ments reaching decent people among
whom they live That being conceded
IL would be a scathing commentary on
the detective intelligence Of the coun-
try II they could not be marked and
punished.
Just what course our preventive and
punitive organization against anarch-
ism should take, IS a question not to b.
answered off-hand. But IT is desirable