New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1904-04-06

To Mr. Edward NJ Shepard We once more
wish TO tender the assurance that we would
not knowingly misquote him OF anybody else.
We hold his character and abilities in the high
est respect, and have been interested TO under
stand his point Of view In appearing as a cham
pion OF Mr.. Turner's right Of entry into this
country while avowing himself an anarchist.
Our mistaken reference to his view Of President
Mckinley emphasizes the we'll established truth
Of the danger Of trusting to the verbal nccu-
racy Of memory instead of verifying quota
tons.
But, to come to the principal part OF Mr.. Shep-
ards letter, published yesterday. we confess
ourselves somewhat puzzled. Mr. Shepard gives
Us no light as 10 his opinion of Mr.. Turner's tit
ness for entry into the United States. in view
Of his recent declaration that he does not advO-
cate assassination, because 'the man who sits
back safely and urges upon another 10 do
something ne thinks ought 10 be done Is
coward" lie simply recurs 10 the situation rs
presented 20 him last December, when his con
domination Of the order was based entirely
upon the grounds for It made by the govern
''ment officials" whose statement must he pre-
"sumed 10 have been made as strong as the
facts justified" He says:
It vas ny vlew-and I think I made It clear
that II Mr. Turner or any one else either prac-
used advised crime, whether crime so de-
testable political assassination OF lesser
crime. he should be excluded from our country,
as should All criminals The government how
ever. did not accuse Mr.. Turner Of any crime or
Indictment to crime. but merely Of holding the
doctrine or belief OF those called anarchists;
that s. TO say, those who dIsbelieve IN govern
ment by force. a doctrine which, as you and
every educated know. includes neither
crime nor incitement TO crime
Grant that Mr.. Turner IS not criminal
Neither is n pauper nor a Iunatic, nor n China
man. Yet all are rigldly excluded. Grant also,
for the sake Of the argument-though we do not
believe it-that the exclusion Of a man for his
belief In the doctrines OF anarchy does violate
the traditions OF American liberty and is wrong
Perhaps the nation ought 10 share that lofty
vision Of liberty which inspired Mr.. Shepard to
write 10 the Cooper Union meeting:
Who are Secretary Cortelyou and the Com
missioner OF immigration. and the rest Of the
great majority Cncluding MYSELF, that we should
assert that we better know the truth than the
ma5Orties. Just Yirtuous We are who in
other ages burned saints and babe the leaders
and thinkers and saviors OF mankind TO be
dumb?
Who. indeed Perhaps we ere all wrong in
failing 10 sec truth in anarchy and savior in
Mr.. Turner. Nevertheless, we fail TO see the
ground Of Mr.. Shepard's condemnation Of the
governments order, which he apparently. still
stands by. He declared his faultlndlng 10 be
mot so much with the statute, except that its
''phraseology is not clear. as It is with the APP
DucauOn maze OF Lle IdLoudl EXECUTIVE.
THAT application regard as un-American, high
handed, tyrannical and stupid" Now, that
statute with which he has little fault 10 find or
ders in positive terms the exclusion of every
person who disbelieyes in or who Is opposed
ito ali organized government, or who is a mem
"Der OF affiliated with any organization en-
''teTtaining or teaching such disbelief in or op-
position 10 all organized government AR.
Turner came here distinctly avowing himself
such person. Mr.. Shepard may think the law
foolish, un-American. unconstitutional. and have
such reverence for freedom of belief that he
would not exclude the philosophical anarchist.
But there is the law on the statute books,
which, at this point at least, seems clear in its
phraseology; aud just how the administration,
without neglecting its plain duty to enforce the
law, could have failed to order the exclusion of
man who proclaimed himself an anarchist and
ois5eliever in organized government, albeit
he is philosopher Who never committed crime
we confess we do not understand.
We may be as blind on that subject rs Mr.
Shepard thinks he and Mr. Corteiyou NAV be
10 the possible virtues OF anarchy. We do not
doubt that Mr.. Shepard has logical formula
which proves the tyranny OF the administration
in deporting a man who says he disbelieves in
Organized government, in obedience to law
which orders the exclusion Of such disbelievers
on the mere ground Of opinion. regardless of