The Washington herald., 1908-02-16

Yet the very moment that a crime of
this kind has any political relation, it
seems to be looked upon in English
speaking countries with certain amount
Of indulgence-that is, when perpetrated
abroad. If the victim has been in a po-
sition to exercise any authority, there is
tenGency TO impute to him oppression
and tyranny-and for tyranny we are
taught by some Of the greatest writer's
OF the English language, notably by
Swinburne. that there is but one remedy,
namely. assassination.
The assassins in. that case are no longer
felons. but patriots emulating Brutus.
When the crack-brained neurasthenic
son Of the Russian Gen. Schaumann shot
Gen. Bobrikot, the governor general of
Finland, four years ago, the London
Times. IN one Of its ponderous leaders. or
editorials, spoke of the murderer as rid
ding his country of a tyrant," and when
the frst news was received of the shock
ing death of the King of Portugal and
OF HIS eldest son, there was a very nota-
bic disposition on the part of the Amer
ican press to intimate that Don Carlos
had in a measure merited his fate by his
despotism.
Working to Aid Public.
Yet his temporary suspension Of the
constitUtion-thati is 70 say, his tyranny
had no other object than that of riddng
the government administration of the al
most inconceivabie dishonesty and ex-
travagance to which it had been commit
TED by the corrupt political machines that
had alternated one another in Office, until
he called a halt in 1906, and appointed
SsnOT JCaO Franco as premier, with the
avOwed purpose of cleansing the Augean
stables of the government admiHistTa-
tion, and of restoring the credit of Portu-
gal abroad and her prosperity at home
The doctrine that political assassination
IS in any way excusable. or that it is en-
titled TO more Indulgence in popular
opinion than ordinary murder is one of
the most dangerous it is possible TO
spread through the agency Of the news
papers, which should never lose the op-
pOrtunity of insisting that the killing of
a man in authority is every bit as much
Of a felony, and of an objectionable and
ineXcusable offense, as the homicide of
an ordinary citizen.
Review <Of Assassination.
In reviewing the number of so-caIIed
political assassinations or attempted muir
ders of rulers and royal personages in
modern times, one cannot help being
struck by the preference which seems
10 be displayed for the pistol over the
knife or the bomb. King Humbert. Shah
Nasr-e Din of Persia, King Alexander
and Queen Draga of Servia, Prince
Milosh Of Servia, and no less than three
Presidents of the United States, namely,
Lincoln, Garfield and Mckinley, all of
them succumbed to pistol bullets.
Alfonso XII, Amadeus Duke Of Aosta.
while King Of Spain, King George Of
Greece, King Frederick William " of
Prussia, King Louis Philippe of France,
Emperor Alexander II of Russia. Ma
p0leOn III Of France, King Leopold of
Belgium, the late Queen Victoria, the
present King OF WuTttemberg. and Ed
ward VII have all been shot at, some of
them on several occasions. Only one of
them, however, sustained any wounds,
namely, the late Emperor William, who
for several months In 1878 was prevented
from transacting the business of the
government. owing to the wounds which
he had received from his woud-be as
Bassin, NObling.
CarnOt was stabbed.
President Carnot met with his death
by a knife thrust, as did Charles III,
penulumate sovereign Duke Of Parma,
while Empress Elizabeth of Austria WIS
killed by a dagger in the form of a sharp
pointed file Passanante's memorable at
tempt on the life OF King Humbert short
ly after his succession to the throne was
made with q knife and would undoubtedly
farr h5 f,-e
minister, Carroll. who was driving in the
royal carriage. thrust himself forward,
and shielding his sovereign, received the
wound IN his side. Isabella II was like
wise wounded by the poignard of an un-
frocked priest. while entering the Church
of the Attocha, not long after the birth
OF the Infanta Isabella, while Francis
Joseph was likewise severely injured by a
stab between the shoulders shortly before
his marriage and would undoubtedly
have been killed had it not been for the
devotion OF an aid-de-camp, a young Off
Ger Of Irish paTentage Of the name of
ODonnen.
Only one monarch has lost his life
through a bomb namely, Alexander II of
Russia, whose younger son, the Grand
Duke Sergius, was blown TO pieces
in the same way, about two years
ago at Moscow. But the present King Of
Spain has on two separate occasions,
once in Paris and in the other instance
at the time of his wedding had his life
attempted by means of bombs which
were likewise used against Napoleon III
and King Louis Philippe
SOveFeignS Escape Unhurt.
IN the case Of all these three sovereigns.
they themselves escaped unhurt, though
numerous other lives were sacrificed by
the outrages
Thus Gar only two real attempts have
been made TO destroy sovereign by
means Of railroad wrecking On one occa-
sion, the baggage train OF Alexander III
OF Russia was blown to pieces near Mos
COW in the belief that it was the inn
perial special. while in the other instance
the train on which Alexander, his En-
press. and his children were travelling,
was ditched at Borki. and precipitated
down a steep embankment, many Of the
members Of the suite and of the imperial
Tetinue losing their lives, while the En-
peror himself with his wife and children
escaped ali injury, beyond bruises and
shock, IN a manner that can only be de-
scribed as miraculous.
Poison, once so fayorite a method of
cutting short the lives Of rulers, appar-
emily no longer finds favor with regccdes,
and the only case that / can recall in
modern times was an attempt to kill Car
Alexander III by means OF poisoned
gloves, which cost the life OF one OF the
members Of his suite. Count Chermetieff,
whose gloves were mistaken for those of
his sovereign.
superstftiOn Responsible.
Superstition is largely responsible for
the extraordinary care which is taken