The Anarchists.

New Zealand Graphic, Volume XXVII, Issue XIII, 28 September 1901, Page 585

The Anarchists.

The spectacle of the Czar and Czarina passing' along a line of route so guarded on their account as to have the aspect of an armed camp, and of the heir apparent to the British throne protected in a less conspicuous but not less careful manner, as he journeys through loyal Canada, proclaims how dreaded is the [Miner that has just laid low a President of the United States. Far from these precautions being extreme, it would seem almost impossible to devise precautions sufficiently stringent to guarantee safety from the disciples of Anarchy. One. scarcely realises the torture which the royal objects of these precautions must suffer oil public occasions. A man need be no coward to feel his nerves cracking under the strain of an apprehension which haunts him day and night. It is said that when the Duke of Cornwall was in Melbourne a little button-hole of violets thrown by an admirer in the crowd unexpectedly brushed past his face. For the moment he was startled, but only for the moment. The next instant his face had regained its ordinary composure. But few’, had they noticed the incident, could have gauged what the shock must have been. For only those who know they are marked but by the Anarchists for their prey can realise how through all safeguards the assassin's bullet may find its way. Indeed, it would appear that the greatest safeguard of all lies in the fact that though these enemies of law continue to preach the doctrine of murder, there are few of them prepared to practise it. One shudders to think what they might not for a moment effect had they all the courage of their wild counsels. But it is only now’ and again that a Bresci or a Czolgosy is found. Tt" probably takes months of inflammatory lecturing and conferring to evolve the murderer. I entirely -doubt the theory that lots are drawn, and the manto whom the lot ■ of killing falls cheerfully accepts.bis dread mission. It suits the Anarchists to tell that story’. The doctrine of the Anarchists is the wild beasts’ doctrine, and in so far as human nature is removed from the level of the wild beast, just so far does it fail to find disciples willing to obey its behests. It is the little bit of conscience developed in these savage breasts that stays their hand. And is not that the real safeguard that the world has against that residue which civilisation has failed to civilise at heart? Without it the world would be a den of ravening wolves.