THE CHIEF OF THE ANARCHISTS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXXVII, Issue 11520, 3 November 1900, Page 2 (Supplement)

THE CHIEF OF THE ANARCHISTS.

HE TELLS THE STORY OF THE ORGANISATION OF THE SOCIETY. Lyons, September 23.—The world is full of villains. ..Yesterday I encountered their king. Some seven months ago I was fortunate enough to save the life of a child which narrowly escaped drowning in the Lake of Geneva. ' That child was the only daughter of the Prince of Anarchists. , . " You ask me to tell you something about the inner life of Anarchism," he said. " You tell mo that such knowledge will benefit you in your profession. You ask a favour of me. I owe you one—you saved the life of the only thing in this world I love. Come —follow me." Taking me into a small room whero the child I had saved lay sleeping, he placed a crucifix in the little one's hand. " Swear," said he, "by the Cross you venerate that you will never divulge my name or whereabouts. Swear that the names I mention shall never pass your lips. Swear that you will never tell aught to the world which will incriminate or cast suspicion on any individual or house!" And I took the oath. THE MAKING OF ASSASSINS. - "The dawn of Anarchism," he began., "is awakening. The deaths of Carnot and Humbert are but incidents in a mighty programme for the betterment of manldnd. At last we are Becoming organised. Union is strength. In every city of Europe we have our agents, who gather round themselves the moro activa members of the Socialist clubs. "From rampant Socialism to Anarchism is but a step. It is our agents who foster -he love of notoriety in the breasts of the more advanced Socialists, who soon throw of! the parti-coloured cloak of Socialism for the scarlet raiment of Anarchism. "It is from this class of men that we choose our instruments of destruction. We find one of these men with a grievance of many years' standing. We foster his grievance. Wo titillate his vanity by appointing him "to do some great deed. We stir up bis cupidity by promises of wealth if successful. We point out to him the glory of undying fame if he suffers for the cause. " Do we send our leaders to commit these aggressions against the life and property of a person or State? No! There are enough uneducated fanatics in this world for that. Fanatics are many—leaders are scarce as honour among thieves. LUCCnENI AND BRESCI. " Take the case of Luccheni, for instance. For months we fostered his hatred against law and order. Wo saw ho was a worthy son of Anarchism. He was dissatisfied with his life. He disliked work. He was often hungryan empty stomach is aggressive Anarchism's best friend. We found him at Geneva. He lay in wait to slay someone. His thoughts turned to the Duko of Orleans, who was expected in tho town. By an accident Luccheni heard about tho Empress Elizabeth. The rest of the tale is history. " Let us now turn to Bresci. For years he hadl wished to do something great for the cause. At last the moment arrived. Funds were provided for him. He came from America with one set purpose. Had he failed, six others in the crowd would have carried out the execution of the King. THE SINEWS OF MURDER. "You ask mo how we get our funds? How does Crispi get his? The same way as wo do. We compel—call it blackmail if you wish—the rich to furnish means for their own obstruction. " Strong men we never menace for money. 'Tis the timid old man, tho faithless husband, the rich roue, the besotted drunkard from whom our agents gather their tithes. " As I have already said, wo have agents in every important city on the Continent. England does not count. The English Anarchist is but a loud-mouthed public-house orator, perfectly harmless to society and useless to Anarchism. So wo will leave England! out of tho question, and deal solely with the Continent. ■" Each country has its chief, and it is the duty of each agent to regularly acquaint his chief with the progress the cause is making in his especial district. He also collects funds. Tho agent of one district does not know his fellow-agent of tho next. " It is only the chiefs who are acquainted with the names of all the agents. It is thus we safeguard ourselves against treachery. Very little writing passes between the various persons, and what does is in cipher, which is changed every month. Treachery is always she'd by death, and many of the so-called suicides which we read about in the papers we call by another name. THE POWER OF ANARCHISM.

" Our power is —unlimited. We wage war agaiinst authority. When we think it necessary to remove the head of a State —we do so. It is not the individual wo war against— his position. " Take the case of Humbert. Personally wo had nothing against the man, but it was his office we struck at, and made the world realise our power. The more we are persecuted, the more we are strengthened. An execution in public brings us many converts. Imprisonment for life gives hope to the timid ones.

" Freedom similar to what the boy Sipido got—by the way, we had nothing to do with his foolish exploit—encourages us. The brave scorn death, and the timid imprisonment. You have tried death, imprisonment, and freedom with us. Yet we are stronger to-day than ever. Anarchism is but in its infancy, and! will daily increase till the end of days." But for my oath, that man would now: be in the hands of the police.