Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1906-07-03
DESTROY THE WEAPONS.
Unwritten Law, Based on Superstition,
Of the Reignine Houses Of Europe.

OF the Heignina Houses OF Europe.
For obvious reasons 1t is natural
that the Spanish police should be
anxious to secure the bomb which
did not explode when thrown at the
royal couple.
There was reason behind the de-
sire to nip in the bud the chance Of
further damage. There is an unwrit-
ten law in the reigning houses Of
Europe, says the London Evening
Standard, that all relics of attempts
upon royal lives, as well as the in
struments used for treating the
wounds caused In such attempts,
shall be destroyed. There was a SOL
emn assembly in Geneva of Austro-
Hungarian officials to witness the
destruction of the instruments which
caused the death of the Empress
Elisabeth and Of the surgical instru-
ments used In making the post-mor-
tenn examination.
extent upon superstition, but more
solidly upon the determination to
prevent the relics from falling into
the hands Of exhibitors of such tragic
trifes.
The custom In this matter once
was to grind to pieces the weapon
which had been employed. When.
however the dagger was secured
with which the priest Martin Merino
attempted TO murder Queen Isabella
Of Spain, rather more than half a
century ago, the blade was found to
be of such finely tempered steel that
1t resisted every effort OF file and
stone.
Something like a panic was caused
when the news got abroad; the Span
ish peasants imagined that there
must be magic In the blade. SO a
cabinet was specially summoned to
deal with the crisis, and 1t was de-
termined to submit the steel to the
influence Of acids. This proving sue
cessful, all implements used for like
foul purposes have undergone the like
treatment-knives, swords, daggers
revolvers and, presumably. bombs.
It was a cruel irony that the bombs
thrown at the young king and queen
Of Spain should be hurled by a man
secreted in the only house in Madrid
owned by Queen Christina. This. at
first sight, is surprising Napoleon
III, In the terror which Orsini's at
tempt inspired, bid for safety by buy
Ing up the houses facing the Tuiler-
les, so that bombs should not be flung
thence by his enemies.
It Is from places whose position
should guarantee their safety that
danger comes. Only a miracle pre-
vented Alexander II from being blown
to atoms in his own winter palace.
The Grand Duke Serge was assassin
ated outside the law court Of st. Pc
tersburg; Gen. Bobrikoff was slain
when entering the senate; M. Plehve
was struck dead with his secret po-
lice all around him; the king and
queen of Servia perished in their own
palace.
A blow aimed by the would-be
murderer upon such an occasion as
Thursday is aimed in spite Of the
most elaborate precautions Of the po-
lice Of Europe. The detective forces
Of all the capitals of Europe are rep
resented at this moment at Madrid.
Probably all the anarchist societies
in Europe, too, are represented there.
Plots are always on foot, though
they may not come to anything. The
police get to hear of a movement;
the conspirators are warned Of the
discovery and abandon their plans.
The authorities do not unnecessarily
display their knowledge. There Is
danger in publicity, the anarchist is
initiative, and will strive to share the
fame, as 1t is esteemed, of the man
who, discovered in a felonious en-
terprise, becomes for the moment
European figure.