Two hours after the terrible and disagreeable duty of Sheriff Matson had been performed, in the name, and for the peace of the State of Illinois, in the execution of the four condemned anarchists, their bodies had been delivered to their friends, the gallows had been taken down and stowed in its accustomed place, and not one vestige of the awful punishment which had just been inflicted remained to tell that anything out of the ordinary had transpired.
Every good citizen and right-thinking American will join with me in extending to their afflicted widows and orphan children sincere and heart-felt commiseration for the calamity which has befallen them. While the law inflicts punishment for its violation, it does it for the public good. Mercy was not to be considered longer in their case. “Mercy to the guilty is cruelty to the innocent.” The great book of law is prefaced with these words. Justice is the unchanged everlasting will to give each man his right. The right to free speech had been accorded to these men, and it had been abused. Under the diabolical teachings of Herr Most, anarchy promised soon to become the ruling power. But they have, we trust, ascertained that America is a poor and barren soil in which to cause anarchy to grow and flourish. They have found that though the mills of God grind slow, yet they grind exceeding fine.
We shall forever be surprised beyond expression at the words made use of at the funeral of the anarchists on Sunday, November 13, by Captain Black, in his oration over the bodies of these outlaws. He was said to have used the following words:
“For the love of truth they died,” said the orator. “They fought for a cause, believing themselves in the right, and in the years to come they will be loved and revered.”
Captain Black was followed by other speakers who made use of language very expressive and forcible.
T. J. Morgan followed with a speech in which he dwelt on the last words of the men before the drop fell. The immense throng at the grave became excited and frequently interrupted him.
“Let the voice of the people be heard,” he cried, in Parson’s last words. When he spoke of the majesty of the law a voice cried: “Throttle the law!” When he asked: “Shall we be revenged on Bonfield, Grinnell, Gary, and Oglesby?” voices cried: “Yes, yes! Hang them!” Albert Currlin, formerly of the Arbeiter Zeitung, spoke in German and called the laboring men cowards for permitting the “five-fold murder.”
CHAPTER XV.
A description of Herr Most’s sanctum. A den where anarchy was begotten. The anarchist chief’s museum of weapons and infernal machines. Easy lessons in the art of assassination.