Who Are Anarchists?

     Among the great dailies of Chicago the “Chronicle” has earned the distinction of treating Anarchy and Anarchists with more fairness, impartiality, honesty and honor than any other. Though using these much abused and much execrated words in their popular, unscientific, unphilosophic and irrational sense the “Chronicle” has earned the gratitude and respect of all fair-minded people by such editorials as the following, which appears in its edition of Sunday, September 22:

     Doubtless there are many in the United States who will cordially indorse [sic] a plan suggested in Europe for a conference on Anarchism. The idea is to send dangerous Anarchists of all countries to a remote place, probably an island in the Pacific.
     At first glance this seems to solve the evil, but serious difficulties arise as to who are Anarchists, and shall every type of Anarchist be expatriated? Rev. John P. Crosser, in addressing the Presbyterian ministers, said that the Anarchy which most threatened the life of the government and its institutions was the Anarchy of the boulevard which bribed legislatures. Shall we include, then, these denizens of the boulevard in making up the lists for the island in the Pacific? And if these, why not those who defy law in evading the payment of legitimate taxes in support of the government? This negative attack on authority is little better than open violence.
     And what is to be done with the clergyman who would gladly have taken the law into his own hands and killed the assassin at once? Is this defiance of law to be countenanced? And what of the clergyman who wished the bullet had turned against certain leaders in the Democratic party rather than against the chosen leader of the Republicans?
     The mad Chicago enthusiasts, Pearce, Weinland, and Meyers, who would have taken summary vengeance on the Anarchists in custody in the county jail, proved their own spirit of Anarchy. So, too, did the employes [sic] of the Heywood & Wakefield Rattan Company when in their righteous indignation they would have hanged the graceless Remlick if the sane John De Roche had not persuaded them to refer the matter to the proper authority.
     Rev. John A. Vance thinks Anarchy comes from Russia, and Dr. Gunsaulus would have a wall of protection against human beings with “intellects gnarled and twisted by ages of tyranny” in the old country. The fact is, Anarchy is not confined to any one locality or to any one class of intellects. It is found among the sharply intelligent, who are keen enough to defy law and gain their ends by subverting law, as it is among the most degraded, who are too ignorant to escape the law. It is found on the boulevards and in the slums, among the clergy as among the laity.
     In a time like this it is well enough for each one to examine his own temper and conduct of life. It is possible he is guilty of more Anarchy than he is aware.

     In its issue of September 24 the “Chronicle” says editorially:

THE “STAMPING OUT” CRAZE.

     Among the worthy utterances at the Coliseum Sunday were these by Rev. Thomas E. Cox: “All history witnesses the futility of tyranny to uproot Anarchy or suppress the growth of liberty.” “America symbolizes liberty, freedom of speech, freedom of worship and a free press. If a republic cannot foster these and flourish it cannot exist at all.”
     Such utterances are timely when the air is so full of vague and passionate clamor for the “stamping out” of Anarchy.
     They are worthy of the thoughtful attention of those who evidently have no clear idea of how the stamping out is to be accomplished, and still more of those who impulsively invoke Anarchy in one of its manifestations to stamp out Anarchy in another of its manifestations.

     To every right-minded person it must be gratifying to know that not all the great dailies of the big cities are joining in the mad dog cry of “Stamp out Anarchy and the Anarchists.”