The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1905-09-20

Guy de Maupassant once remarked
10 me that it was necessary to pre-
serve the anarchists in order to make
modern history interesting.
The rulers of the world seem to be
of the same opinion. Over and over
again scientists and men of common
dsense have told them that the anarchist
is simply a diseased mind, requiring
creatures. But statesmen and police
alike have persisted in treating the
anarchist as a serious politician, with
results which are, unfortunately, too
well known. !,
It is true that, after the death Of
Elizabeth Of Austria, the ch1valrous
conference Of diplomats and police d.
rectors in Venice to consider methods
for dealing with the anarchists. But
he would have done better to call
in Professor Lombroso. 1 myseld
and America, for the sum of 42O,o 0 a
year, provided / were allowed to in
caroerate in an asylum every man whom
I could prove to be a sufferer from hon.
icidal mania.
result Of King Humbert's gallant ac-
ton would be to point him out to these
creatures as their next victim. Yet l
must now so far confess myself mis-
taken as to declare that the death Of
the late king of Italy does not really
lie at the door of anarchism.
1t was another European sovereign,
more alive to the realities OF the situa-
ton than Humbert, who secretly com
missioned me to make an investigation
into the organization Of the anarchist
sect and the trend of its operations. l
must not disclose the name Of this mon
arch; to do so would be to point him
out to the vengeance Of the assassins.
As soon as I had received his commits
sion, I laid aside all my other work
and prepared to disappear for an in
definite period.
av My first step was to transform my
self into a workman, or rather a loafer,
for an industrious workman is seldom
found among the "active' anarchists.
I secured a few jobs in Paris as a
house-painter's laborer-that is to say,
The skilled workman applied the fresh
coats of paint. I took care to show no
zeal in my employment, and in the in
ftervals Of work I hung about the
brasserdies and grumbled at the small
ness Of my earnings.
BY these tactics I quickly earned the
ssrpeihsta1a Of re p BGea CONFESS Ths so >aad q
of the quarter / had chosen to work in
quickly recognized me as a likely con
vert, and I allowed them to enroll me in
one Of the most advanced societies..
& All these measures were mere prelim-
inaries to the final one Of blcssoming
forth as q declared anarchist. It Is
from the ranks of socialism that anar.
chism draws its recruits. Tho the two
theories are utterly opposed, they OK
press the same discomfort with c~iviliza.
ton. An anarchist is little more than
a socialist who has one out Of his
mind.
By going over to the anarchist grour
from the arms Of their rivals, I ensured
myself g. welcome which would never
have been given to me had I attempted
to force myself upon them at the out
set.
Among the anarchists it was neces
asary to adopt rather different tactics
I had now to play the part Of a danger
GUS lunatic, only awaiting direction
from some superior mind to commit al
act Of violence.
Paris itself is not an important an
archist center. The French police ar
gtoo qu~ick-witted for their capital to b,
a comfortable residence for these DIES
peradoes. The three great centers, a
most people know, are Zurich, Londo'
4 Zurich is the Russian headquarters
and is rather a place for nihilists thai
international anarchists. / therefor
decided to cross over to London, in tn
hope Of coming into touch with tn
leading minds of the sect.
In London I found myself receive
without the least suspicion. My care
fully prepared record stood'm in goo
stead. I was introduced by my Parisia
comrades as a promising convert fro1
IS Is socialism, and no one inquired furthe.
I found the London anarchists tor
by internal discussions which left thel
IT, M ttpoo IN think nf otiaok1nr kinC
and queens. The first man I was aske
to murder was Prince -, the leadt
Of the idealist group, whose sole O.
Tense was his refusal to5concur in th
homicidal program Of the active al
archists.
I refused to execute this mandat
on the plea that 7 had vowed to p,
to death q crowned head, and could NJ
afford to risk my life in the pursuit
humber prey.
machinery Of secret meetings, oath
ballots and 50 on has no existence g
noyelists. The fantastic description
can only provoke a smile on the pa
Of anyone who has been behind tt
scenes in anarchism.
The anarchists are a huctuat1ng COZ
munity, here today and gone tomorroy
among whom a few leading spirits WI
have learned to know and trust eae
other by actual experience exercise 9
n influence much like that exercised k
the front bench over 8 par1lament91
party in England, an influence .whlt
varies with their WI concord al
strength Of character.
When these leaders find a man who
they see to be a suitable instrumen
they bring their influence to bear
him to carry out whatever object "a
may agree upon. In some cases pc
srhaps a pantomimie scene 1s arrange
Il such as we read Of in romances, to II
3sspress a weak mind. 1 can only say tn
I never saw anything of the sort.
A well known anarchist, whose nan
would be recognized Immediately we
I to mention it, took me aside one mig
and suggested to me the removal OF Il
prince. I gave the answer I have me
toned, and the proposal was instant
1i dropped.
Ny refusal was followed, natural
enough, by an attempt on my own III
Two days afterward the editor Of I
anarchist paper, who had taken rath
"a fancy to me, came round to my lod
ings before daybreak and advised n
to leave for America. He gave me
reason for this advice. but he was We;
furgent with me, and insisted on VT:
ro1ing me a letter Of Introduction to a mi
living in Jersey City. I promised
consider the matter, and he bade r
On leaving my lodgings an hour lat
to 90 and look for a job-the customa
pretence-1 discovered immediate