Nelson Chronicle, Colne Observer, and Clitheroe Division News. — 1898-09-16 (Nelson, Lancashire, England)

ROYAL TRAGEDY.  MURDEROUS as is the Anarchists' bestial creed, cruel and heartless as are their approved methods of putting it into practice, these wretches might at any rate have spared an innocent and defenceleas woman, if the time for a fresh sacrifice bad really come. Every few years the sense of the civilised world la shocked by the occurrence of some terrible crime traceable to the brutal comradeship whose inspiring motive is hatred of kings and soeptres. But now for the first time the world has bete bidden to remember that even Queens and Empresses must not hold themselves safe against the fiendish plots of these enemies of society and the callous knife which is their favourite instrument of attack. By the revolting SISSOBILIAtion of the Empress of AUSTRIA in the city of Geneva last Saturday, Anarchism proclaims as never before, its utter and unrelieved savagery and devilry. There was no motive for the mime save lust of blood. The Empress was one of the worthiest and kindest of women. She had wronged no one, had offended no one; in the pathetic words of bar bereaved consort, throughout her regal life she had "done nothing but good." Nor is it pretended that the Emperor himself has given cause for displeasure to the scoundrels who first formally passed sentence of death upon an aged lady and then commissioned foul LUCCHESI to perpetrate the black deed. The crime stands out as an act of purposeless wickedness, without rational motive and without conceivable end. These brutes— for men they never are—were simply bent on killing someone, and so that society might be the more shocked they fixed upon a sovereign and a woman as their prey. Well may civilisation stand aghast and abased that a deed so malignant Should be possible within the borders of her nominal sway. To the student of men and manners it is a fresh reminder of the appalling depth of depravity to which human nature can sink, and of the indistinguishable dividing line which runs between the apparently civilised member of society and the sanguinary beast of prey. To the politician it suggests different thoughts, and the first is that of retaliation and defence. As the Anarchists have made deliberate was upon society, by striking at its very foundations, society is at least justified in adopting the severest means that may be needful to ward off attack, as well as in visiting high-handed punishment upon the conspirators against its pewee and safety. People who can commit deeds such as that which has this week filled the whole ;world with horror and consternation deserve no more pity than they show. They are social vermin, and as vermin they should be pursued and exterminated. Meanwhile, the profoundest feelings of sympathy will go forth to the venerable Emperor FRANZ JosEF, who by this hard blow of fate has , been robbed of hie last earthly consolation. ...Absolutely nothing is spared to me in this world! '' was the passionate cry with which be received his terrible lass, "and his Majesty after wards became hysterical.' Alas, poor FOUL it might so seem. The story of the tragic end of his only eon in 1889 will be too fresh in the reader's mind to need  rerival. The effect of that bereavement I we. that the direct line of the ancient house , of Hapsburg failed, and the succession passed to the son of the Emperor's eldest brother. Since that terrible event, from the shuck of which neither Emperor nor Empress ever really recovered, the internal condition of Austria has afforded constant cause for I anxiety and worry, and it is peculiarly sad that this new trouble falls at a time of grave crisis in the relationships between the dual kingdoms of Austria and Hungary. Perhaps do living European ruler has shared so many of the sorrows and misfortunes which are inseparable even from the lot of royalty.