The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1910-10-14
VERBAL ANARCHY.


Ii takes second thought TO remember that
Francisco Ferrer was Spanish Republican
suspected Of anarchistic plots, who was executed
by order of military court martial one year ago
III Barcelona. Spain.
Tire death sentence followed popular riots
agairst The government, during the course OF
which many people lost their lives. ferrer lied
and attempted To escape capture BY hiding. lie
was dragged from cellar tried and summary
executed against a blank wall.
THURSDAY the anniversary of his death created
throughout Spain tense situation. With the
sound of Porueals revolution still in their ears,
it needed only little thing to put the Spanish
popuace into similar revolt The army was
massed in all the cities The military grip tight
ened. Hedged in by bayones, prohibited from
assembling, the people were awed In Barcelona
the long-anticipatod anniversary passed without
further incident than the banking of Eerrer's
grave with flowers.
1t remained for New York to measure up 10
the standard Of folly which Spain expected
~ establish. Cooper Union held open house TO
the alien population of America. Speeches were
made in SIX different languages. Every lingo
was exercised in praise Of anarchy. All tongues
4 proclaimed the downfall of governments. In
the crowds taxing the great halls capacity, ii
appeared that there was enough human dynamite
I Ia sight to blow up the Nation. Said the chair
man, in sentiment that is stated to have voiced
be radical views of all the speakers:
.'In one year from now the name of
Francisco Ferrer will be better known
than Theodore Roosevelt's, and in a
hundred years viii be better known
& than Jesus Christ's.''
Such shortsighted fanaticism does not, how
ever, carry the danger that it holds on It's face.
The Cooper Unionites III this instance were COM
posed OF thousands ON thousands of immigrants
Y and their descendants, all undergoing the trans
formation Of New York's melting pot. With
4 negligible exceptions they the stoutest real
h cpponents OF the anarchy they are free to eX-
press. The very liberty of speech with which
they are endowed is the safety valve to their
Asemolions. The with opportunity to talk
foohshness like that is going TO take good care
of his chance 10 intoxicate himself with oratory.
He is little apt to carry into execution the thing.
he is So free 10 advise. In this country he Is
4 gaining day by day practical object lesson III
liberty. lie can work, and get money, and spout
words. What happier destiny for the swart
aliens of the South who find here the freedom
I 10 do and say in public what at home they would
not dare to attempt except with the certain risk
Of imprisonment or death. Ferrer will scarce
II break into the roll of Immortality. We doubt
very much whether in matter of endurance his
1 dead tragedy compare with the live inno-
vafions Of Theodore the Great. Even those who
now proclaim him will have forgotten. New
4 MARTYRS will be afforded hy the tyranny Of the
old world to uncork the ebullient spirits Of the
d old world in the new. Anarchy, even III New
York where it is freest, will speedily get in jail
when il passes the bounds Of rhetoric. Ferrer S
death may have been a crime against liberty,
hut there seems small possibility that ii can be
SO twisted a. 10 continue to be SO.