Omaha daily bee., 1909-10-23

r~evolutionist, recently condemned by a
court-martial and shot to death. There
are modern schools and modern schools, as
widely varied as the term IL elastic. The
Barcelona professor was classed as
philosophical anarchist" one who dis
dained the crude and cowardly violence OF
the bomb. but no less an anarchist in
choosing the subtler means OF lnstilling
the impressionable minds OF youth with
the doctrines of destruction. Ferrer
founded the s~o-called modern schools in
Barcelona and spent the greater part OF a
fortune Of $500, 900 I'm establishing branch
schools throughout Spain. in publishing
text books and in printing trsnslations Of
the works of revolutionary authors, Of
which Kropotkin is a shining example.
The nature Of the doctrines taught in these
schools is shown by extracts from the
text books, Of which the following are
specimens: Society today is divided into
the privileged and the disinherited The
former usurp everything, while the latter
die of hunger. That capital should APP
propriate the fruit Of the workman's labor
is an injustice supported by the law.
J Religious education inculcates falsehood
and teaches foolishness. The soldiers uni
form conceals crimes against humanity
and the misery Of its own existence. To
maintain order is to maintain injustice
against the workingman. All
religions are based on ignorance and i'm
posture, and aim at exploitation and OPP
preston. The Gospels relate the life Of
the so-called Jesus Christ, and It is truly
a misfortune that such ideas exist for the
deceiving Of the people"
zee
Fully 100 branches of the parent school
at Barcelona had been established by
Ferrer throughout Spain UP to the time OF
his execution. None OF them sought. to
conceal or mask the purpose of overturn-
ing the existing order. One school at
Valencia, conducted by Prof. former, and
recently closed by the authorities, was
holder than the rest. Over the principals
chair was a large picture representing
anarchy as a female figure brandishing a
torch upon a heap OF ruins, consisting OF
the broken symbols of monarchy, the
church, the army and other social institu-
tions. The doctrine OF the modern school
proclaimed by Ferrer, as summarized by a
sympathetic writer in the New York Times,
Is that the state is an unnecessary institu-
ton; that the world would be better off
without 1t; that the total abolition of kings,
policemen and courts would leave the world
free to engage in voluntary cooperation,
which they believe to be the commercial
and social condition Of the future. "It may
be a wild dream" says the Times, but
eminent men profess It throughout the
world, and none have suffered death for
protesting it except Ferrer. Assassination
is no part of the creed, although Rropotkln
and all the rest, Ferrer included, admit
that revolution will doubtless be necessary
when the time comes for a change" In
effect, the teaching sought to do to the
state the state did to the teacher.
zee
Three years ago Ferrer was charged with
completely in the bomb throwing at Madrid,
which nearly ended the life of King AL
fonzo on the day of his wedding. The
authorities regarded him as the inspirer,
but not the instrument of the crime. A
civil trial resulted In his %acquittal, although
it was shown that Ferrer and the bomb
thrower were on friendly terms. In the
Barcelona riots, Ferrer had no direct hand
as far as shown. Started ostensibly as
a protest against calling out the reserves
for the Riffian war, they were in fact
instigated and directed by the revolutionists
Of Ferrer's school. Martial law having
been proclaimed, Ferrer was arrested and
tried by a court-martial in secret. The
principal charge against him was based
on discriminating circulars urging revolu-
ton and letters from revolutionists found
in his room. Similar seditlous documents
were sufficient in times past to send Irish
men to prison or to the gallows. The
Spanish authorities determined to end Fer
rer and Ferrerism with one blow. Harassed
by an unpopular war abroad end agitation
at home menacing the throhe, 1t is not
surprising that the ministers Numbered
seriously in the time and manner of dis
posing of Ferrer. Suppression of his
schools and exile would have served the
ends of the state. But the vindictive course
followed makes a martyr OF the "Philoso-
phic anarchist" Gave the revolutionary
brotherhood throughout Europe a rallying
cry, and practically drove out OF office the
ministry responsible for Ferrer's death.
Indignation of the reds and radicals Of
every sort manifested itself in riots and
vengeful oratory, showing clearly the sort
OF a volcano underlying all Europe. It has
been said that the reds make up In volume
Of noise what they lack In numbers. II
would be more accurate to say that they
make up in vengeful fury any lack OF
numbers But there is no lack of numbers
Europe has millions Of the discontinued,
ready to follow any cause promising a
change, or WELD the bomb and torch
against their supposed enemies. Among the
leaders the intensity OF the feeling against
existing Institutions Is amazing to Ameri-
cans. In France II delfles the state and
degrades the church. In Spain 1t assails
all institutions, good or bad. In Italy are
fanatic anti-clericals, directing their attacks
against the church, although the church
is out OF power and politics. Rome is its
chief rallying place. The city government
is distinctly anti-clerieaL
A measure of the intensity Of anarch-
ism in Rome at the present time is fur
nished by the Rome correspondent Of the
Boston Herald in a late letter. "In other
lands he writes, "all enmities cease at
the tomb; in Italy, hatred is carried beyond
the grave. For two or three years back
the removal Of the remains OF Pope Leo
XIII from the temporary tomb IN st.
Peters has been held up because the gov
eminent is unable or unwilling to furnish
protection for the funeral. Unlike their
Pagan predecessors, the present masters
Of Rome-whether they be anarchists or
NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. a burial to one who,