The patriot. [volume] (Indiana, Pa.) 1914-1955, 1915-03-20

That Best Expresses Mental Attitude
Of Some of Youths Who Would Pose
as "Reds"-Professor Robinson Of
Columbia University Blames Idea
GIimmerings" For Bomb Attempt.
Foreigners with idea glimmerings
not worked out, with terrorist philos-
ophy that is a mistit in this country
that is how | would describe the plant
ers of the bombs in st. Patrick's cathe-
dral and anarchists of their type" said
John Harvey Robinson, professor of
history in Columbia university and an
authority ON historical philosophical
subjects, in discussing the arrest and
frustrated plot Of Abarno and Carbone.
There is no Justification for the ex-
tstence Of anarchists in the social con-
ditions OF this country" he maintained.
at is hard to conceive the motives
which impel such actions as theirs
One can understand the thoughts of Q
Russian nihiliSt, who is not criminal
In the true sense, but who is working
along the lines of definite philosophy
toward a definite end. or Of the ter
rorists of Paris who engaged in the
fight for the Commune in 1871.
'But things are different in this cOun-
try. l can trace no analogy between
conditions before the commune of 1871
and the conditions in this country to-
day which precede what the two ltal-
fan anarchists are said to have planned
"a commune of anarchy and riot in
New York. There is no parallel Of
cause, and there will be no parallel of
effect.
Idea of Commune Absurd.
'"The idea Of a commune being es-
tablished here by men of the type of
AbarnO and Carbone is absurd. Even
the most diSreputable, the most down
and out of the hoboes and the unem-
ployed in the city, would never follow
such leaders to wholesale murder.
''The proof that conditions In this
country do not justify the actions of
the two men and their kind-that an
archy and anarchism are not natural
outgrowths Of existing society here-is
simple enough. Think what would hap
pen if anarchists tied up the subway
for day! The whole city would band
together for their suppression. Our CIV
iliZation is too complex, too delicate.
too sensitive, to stand such shocks
without retaliation. There are not
enough anarchists in the country to
succeed in terroriZing New York for
any length Of time, for the simple rea-
son that the community is constructed
I'm such an orderly manner that no dis
turbance would be tolerated by it.
''The case of the commune in Paris
was different. The country and the
city were already in a state of semi
anarchy. Police power and the more
certain power of public opinion had
vanished from Paris with the capture
of the city, the death of her best citi-
Eens in the war with Germany and the
starvation and suspension Of business
which followed. 1t can be said, in a
general way, that the struggle Of the
commune in 1871, during which the
Hotel de Vile, the Luxembourg and 9TH
er public buildings were burned and
thousands died before and behind the
barricades Of the anarchists, was the
more or less natural result Of condi-
tions in the community.
Conditions Different Here.
, "But that cannot be said of any at
tempted commune in New York nor
of the acts of the anarchists later.
These can be attributed to miSapplica-
ton Of half formed ideas and ideals.
fitted, perhaps, to Russia or even to
Italy but not to conditions In the Unit
ed States. which are totally different"
Speaking more definitely of the men
tai makeup Of the Bresci anarchists.
A. T. Poffenburger. engaged In labor
atory research and experimental work
with the department of psychology at
Columbia university, spoke of the ter
rorist plans revealed by the recent ar
rests.
"There is no one positive type OF
mind that belongs TO the red" he said.
at is always possible to trace the
causes of his criminal bent or his an
archiStic instincts. if the facts of his
birth and his life are known. 1t re-
solves itself into Il matter of heFedity
and environment. | have not yet seen
Carbone and Abarno, but have known
men of their stamp. Their mental at
titude may be best expressed by The
world owes me livingr
at Is not surprising that the two
are so young. Tendencies which lead
to crime usually show themselves be-
tween thirteen and twenty-five, or even
earlier"
A Matter of Discretion.
"Father," asked the youthful seeker
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