The Irish standard., 1908-03-07
stroy the Christian religion.

beauty Of their philosophy and the
great things that it's realization will
bring about. So do the Anarchists
talk about their philosophy and about
the right Of the individual to do as he
pleases irrespective Of government.
Both Anarchists and Socialists realize
that the Christian religion and the
state must both go before Anarchy or
Socialism can triumph. The assassin
alton of priest in Denver is as much
In order, and no more, than the assas-
sination of president at Buffalo, Or
Chief of Police at Chicago. There
is no use deceiving ourselves. Some
day we must meet these people as they
are. not as their apologists would make
them appear. We must take their work
as the evidence Of their program, and
not the hazy. semi charitable specula-
tions of such people as Jane Adams Of
Hull House.
1t has been very popular in some
quarters in this country to express
sympathy for the nti-clericals in Italy
and Spain. and for the revolutionists
i'll Russia. They all belong to the same
class. They are enemies of order and
constituted authority. They designate
themselves anti-clericals in Italy and
Spain because there the Church is the
strongest bulwark of order and au-
,hority. They call themselves revolu-
tionists in Russia because there q
strongly centralized state is the sup
porter of order and authority. The
man who killed Father Heinrichs came
from Italy. The man who attempted
to kill the Chief Of Police came from
kisheneff, Russia. A few years ago
the people of this country were ex-
pressing great sympathy for the revo-
lutionists Of that town.
There has been woeful lack Of a
proper understanding of the revolu-
tionary movement in Russia and the
anti-clerical movement in Rome. Those
who give sympathy and indirect aid to
those, who in the name Of liberty, at
tack the Catholic church in Italy, are
surely helping to destroy themselves.
In one thing Anarchists do not mako
a mistake. They always attack the in
stitution which Is strongest in favor
Of law and authority. They say moth
ing about Protestant religion in Italy,
because there is none. If they attack
the Russian government before they
do that of the United States, it is be-
cause they see in the Russian govern
ment a stronger centralized state, bet
ter equipped to more readily smother
revolution and prevent revolutionary
talk. 1t is not because they hate the
Russian government more than they
do the government of the United
States, but because they see in the
Russian government more government.
1t is not because they are more op-
posed to the Catholic Church than they
are to Protestant churches that Cath
olic priest was killed in Denver, but
because they see In the Catholic church
greater organization to support of
law and religion.
Anti-clericalis,n in Italy and France
sounds sweet to some anti Catholics.
Revolutionists in Russia is term
which arouscs the sympathy Of some
misinformed supporters Of liberty. The
attempt at assassination in Chicago
shows that refugee from Kisheneff
is as ready to attack the police officers
of The United States as he was the po-
lice and solaiers of Russia. We must
not delude ourselves. Anarchists have
no country. They belong to no nation.
They arc opposed to all governments
alike. They have no religion. They
oppose all alike. They strike at the
strongest governments and the strong
est religion first. That is why we hear
about anti-clericals in Rome and revo-
lutionists in Russia.