A COWARDLY CRIME.

Feilding Star, Volume XX, Issue 62, 12 September 1898, Page 2

A COWARDLY CRIME.

The assassination of tbe Empress of Austria will raise a storm of indignation throughout the civilised world. There can be neither excuse nor palliation for such a crime. Austria is composed of many different races, speaking different languages, who, while they have few interests ia common, have a thousand causes for mutual distrust aud dislike. The condition of affairs within tbe last few years bas, in consequence, been far from satisfactory. The Emperor bas been powerless, while the representatives of the people have been so divided tbat the good government of the masses was impossible. This lias engendered iv the latter such a bate against all whom they deem to be their oppressors that a desire for relief from their burdens bas made them almost irre sponsible for their actions. But nothing can pardon tbis dagger thrust in the bosom of an unoffending woman. The miserable wretch who stuck tbat cowardly blow, is unworthy of tbe name of a man, while those others who have instigated, or encouraged the criminal in his design, are equally deserving ot condemnation. That the conspiracy of which this is doubtless the culmination, will be traced to all the participants is a certainty, bc.•anse the members of such organisations always include one or more ready to betray the others to ensure his or their personal safety. While extreme measures arc to be deprecated, yet it will be the earnest desire of everyone who upholds Honor ancl righteousness that justice may fall heavily on the guilty ones.