New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1903-12-06
THE TURNER HYSTERICS

A great deal of lurid rhetoric was set off in
Cooper Union on Thursday evening concerning
the case Of John Turner, the English nOn-mili-
tant anarchist. now detained at Ellis Island
pending court decision upon the constitution
atty of the anarchist exclusion law OF course
nobody expects Mr.. John De Witt Warner to
take up anything calmly. His eloquence and
Indignation always suggest apOplexy He can
not discuss a difference in percentage between
two taxes without invoking upon his adverse
ries the curses Of the Goddess of Liberty and
all the Fathers OF the Constitution Neither
does anybody expect moderation and good sense
from Mr.. Ernest II. Crosby or some of the
other speakers the meeting They are pro-
fessional sentmentalists, and if there are any
anarchists already in the country who go about
apOlogZing for disorder committed in the name
of humanity and labor. they are likely TO ell
joy the friendship of this group. We are little
puzzled, however, TO find IN that company Mr.
Edward VI. Shepard who wrote a letter which
suggests that he Is for the law, but against
its enforcement. All his faultfnding is with
the administration, which he thinks has made
an 'un-American, high-handed, tyrannical and
stupid application Of the law. Perhaps if he
were not so thoroughly at odds with the ad-
miDistrauon otherwise and critical in his atti-
tude toward il. he might take Il more Ienient
view Of its attempt 10 enforce n law which
seems reasonably clear in its literal meaning.
The law Orders-not authorizes but orders
the exclusion of every person who disbelieves
lin or who is opposed TO all organized govern
"ment or who is a member Of or affiliated with
"any organization entertaining or teaching such
disbelief I'm or opposition TO all organized gov
'ernment" Mr.. Turner, understand, admit
tedIy dsbelieves in organized government, and
has repeatedly in Europe avOwed that disbelief
1t is true that he does not advocate the ex-
plosion of bombs or other violent methods of
aboIisning government. Nevertheless he seems
plainly subject to the prohibition Of the law,
and his detention by order Of Secretary Cortel-
you would appear TO be merely a faithful per
formance of duty which Mr.. Shepard should
commend, instead of calling hghhanded and
stupid. Moreover, Mr.. Turner, though he comes
here not to advocate the overthrow of govern
ment- does come here TO organize societies and
address halfeducated people who may easily
be infected by his philosophical ideas of an
archy and translate them into forcible action
Militant anarchy has back Of il and inspiring
1t philosophical anarchy. 1t is difficult to frame
laws 10 reach the latter, but when laws do
happen to reach it we hardly expect to hear
sane men complain that it is an Outrage to
enforce the law 10 its letter because the mar
ticular anarchist does not distribute bombs but
only theories which inspire others more nm
compromising or more rugged than himself IN
make and throw them.
Mr.. Warner and his companions who arc
going to tear down the Statue OF Liberty and
are afraid of being enslaved by trust despots
and imperiaists seem TO forget the difference
between aliens and citizens. ME- Warner went