“Comm nt” [sic] [excerpt]

     4. The comrade seems to infer here that the article by our late comrade Kate Austin on Leon Czolgosz was written to commemorate the anniversary of the martyrs’ death. This is absurd. Czolgosz was electrocuted on October, 29, 1901 [sic], and it was to commemorate his death that the article was written, which was published last October. Comrade Tufts has a right, of course, to her opinion as to the insanity of Czolgosz, but why not allow the same right of opinion to others, and the same right to express that opinion as she claims for herself? In defending and eulogizing Czolgosz Kate Austin revealed some of those remarkable traits of character which raised her far above the ordinary level of her sex. Her tender heart ached for the misfortunes and sufferings of the unfortunate young man, who, almost alone, had to bear the maledictions of his enemies; and not being guided by motives of policy, as many of us are, she wrote her true, honest convictions. As she is dead, let her and her opinions rest in peace. But if this critic harbors the belief that the Chicago martyrs, or any of them, would have unreservedly condemned Czolgosz on account of his deed, I am sure she is in error. They might have condemned the deed itself as unnecessary and unwise, but they certainly would not have shared this comrade’s feelings of indignation and abhorrence against the man.
     5. I think it is best not to be too sure that no “sane mind” can believe that the cause of progress has been helped by the deed of Czolgosz. It certainly has caused thousands of people to think very deeply who never gave the subject of Anarchism any thought before. The fact is that events like this are as milestones along the pathway of progress, marking the way, and pointing out to the watchful student the means of man’s irresistible march onward. I feel like repeating one of Dyer D. Lum’s favorite sayings, “Events educate.” After all, how inscrutable are the ways of—providence. We can almost join our Christian brethren in saying

God moves in a mysterious way
His wonders to perform.