The Dynamiter

Purchase one of 1st World Library's Classic Books and help support our free internet library of downloadable eBooks. Visit us online at www.1stWorldLibrary.ORG - - Gentlemen - In the volume now in your hands the authors have touched upon that ugly devil of crime with which it is your glory to have contended. It were a waste of ink to do so in a serious spirit. Let us dedicate our horror to acts of a more mingled strain where crime preserves some features of nobility and where reason and humanity can still relish the temptation. Horror in this case is due to Mr. Parnell: he sits before posterity silent Mr. Forster's appeal echoing down the ages. Horror is due to ourselves in that we have so long coquetted with political crime; not seriously weighing not acutely following it from cause to consequence; but with a generous unfounded heat of sentiment like the schoolboy with the penny tale applauding what was specious. When it touched ourselves (truly in a vile shape) we proved false to the imaginations; discovered in a clap that crime was no less cruel and no less ugly under sounding names; and recoiled from our false deities. But seriousness comes most in place when we are to speak of our defenders. Whoever be in the right in this great and confused war of politics; whatever elements of greed whatever traits of the bully dishonour both parties in this inhuman contest; - your side your part is at least pure of doubt. Yours is the side of the child of the breeding woman of individual pity and public trust. If our society were the mere kingdom of the devil (as indeed it wears some of his colours) it yet embraces many precious elements and many innocent persons whom it is a glory to defend. Courage and devotion so common in the ranks of the police so little recognised so meagrely rewarded have at length found their commemoration in an historical act. History which will represent Mr. Parnell sitting silent under the appeal of Mr. Forster and Gordon setting forth upon his tragic enterprise will not forget Mr. Cole carrying the dynamite in his defenceless hands nor Mr. Cox coming coolly to his aid.