Spain and Professor Ferrer
WHEN Spain will hear the last of the execution of Professor Ferrer is difficult to tell. A wave of indignation seems to have swept all over the world. It is claimed that it was his teaching which led to the revolution in Spain, and yet others insist that all that he said would have been perfectly harmless if the government had not been what it is. In London the protest took the form of processions marching through the streets carrying red flags, crape bound. A black bordered banner was raised against the Nelson monument, with big letters that could be read from afar, “To hell with the murderer Alfonso.” The Countess of Warwick declared, “No words are too strong to express Europe’s horror at the murder of Ferrer.” We have seen no European papers or opinions which even attempt to justify it; and it was said that under the world’s opinion Alfonso is blaming his minister because pardon of Ferrer was not suggested. These sentiments of protest do not come from Socialists alone. The pope pleaded for clemency; the king of Italy sent his earnest protest; the great capitals and universities of Europe, the centers of intellectual thought in America, all expressed the same opinion. But Ferrer had taught what was considered revolutionary doctrine, and therefore he it was who was considered guilty of the revolt and bloodshed, and he must die. But this is one of the indications that we are likely to see more and more of in the last days, and which is sometimes manifest in whole communities in America in mob law. Sometimes the very men that howl for mob law are not Socialists; are not anarchists. They are what would be called normal American citizens; but they yield to the mad idea suggested by the spirit of all evil, and are carried to extremes. A wild suggestion or two from some madman is sufficient to fire a whole community, and justice is never vindicated, and many times the totally innocent suffer.