South Canterbury Times. WEDNESDAY, APRIL 11, 1883.

South Canterbury Times, Issue 3127, 11 April 1883, Page 2

South Canterbury Times. WEDNESDAY, APRIL 11, 1883.

When, a good many years ago, a captain somebody, a military man of studious mind and inventive genius, informed the British Government that he had discovered a new force, which was far and away more effective than gunpowder, most people were incredulous. He, however, demonstrated by experiments in the presence of the authorities, that the newly discovered power was really superior to anything yet discovered. So deadly were its effects that it was regarded with dread, and it was decided to let well alone and be content with the milder explosive known as gunpowder. Consequently for some years nothing more was heard of dynamite, and it had been almost forgotten. By and by it came into use, sparingly, for blasting purposes, and by degrees it became a regular article of manufacture and merchandise. To few persons then did it occur that this dynamite might one day became a fearful weapon in civil strife. The fact is, few persons realised the lengths to which rebels in arms would go, or to which a fanatical or revolutionary craze would carry people. When the clouds cleared away after the French Eevolution it was believed that the atmosphere had brightened, and a day was about to dawn upon the world brighter and more lasting than any proceeding one. This was a fond delusion—the foundations of society had yet to be shaken far more powerfully than ever they had been. After the attempt on the life of Napoleon 111. by Orsini, Pierri, and their accomplices who threw small bomb-shells or band grenades down under his carriage from the upper story of a house opposite the Grand Opera in Paris—for which the two principals had their heads comfortably chopped off—it was believed that this kind of thing was now over for ever. But as Nihilism, Socialism, Fenianism and other levelling and murderous brotherhoods came into activity they looked around for the most deadly means they could discover for effecting their destructive purposes and dynamite was then remembered,

and on that they pitched as an effective secret agent. The manufacture of the article rapidly grew ; factories were established and a very large business was done in this formidable compound. Every year of late has brought increased bitterness to the conflict between rebellion and law, and the enemies of social order are now athirst with a frantic desire to overturn and destroy the entire social fabric. Assisted by Ibis explosive these anarchists have contrived to institute a reign of terror in Europe which it is appalling to contemplate. The wonder is that the manifestations of this fiendish spirit have been so slow in coming forward in England, while the Continent of Europe has suffered so severely from disaffection, for England has ever been a refuge for those flying from justice or tyranny, or revolution. Patriots and cut-throats, brigands and captains of barricades—demagogues and visionaries, red republicans and Nihilists all these people have gravitated towards London, which now contains agencies of every secret society in existence. No wonder that at last England begins to feel the effect of the existence within her boundaries, of an ever-increasing section of turbulent unscrupulous and sanguinary spirits. Fenianism, of course, is fanned into fiercer flame by the example of continental anarchists, and it looks, indeed, as though there was to be a general social disruption,and a return to chaos. When the history of the present century is written, dynamite will figure more largely in it than ever the inventor expected it would. The new measure introduced by Sir W. V. Harconrt, for the suppression of dynamite outrages, is at least not premature, but the outlook is a very dark one, and it'is hard to say what legislative enactments or concessions will avail to restore order in the communities of Europe. All things considered, we have very little reason to regret that fortune has guided our steps to the colonies, for life at Home now must be -more exciting than pleasant.