The Morning News

Gould as an Anarchist.

Many hard things have been said of Jay Gould, but perhaps the hardest was said by John A. Henry, a professed Anarchist, who delivered an address in New York the other night at a meeting of the Socialistic Labor party. Its name was the biggest thing about Henry's audience, for there were present to hear him four women, four reporters, and eleven other individuals supposed to be Socialists. Henry announced that it was his purpose to justify Jay Gould from the standpoint of anarchism. Anarchism, he held, meant individualism. Socialism meant "all for one and one for all." Gould was an Anarchist, not a Socialist, and believed in the motto "Each for himself."

Illustrating the meaning of the motto which he said Gould believed in, Henry declared that every murder was an act of self-defense. A man who killed another was merely seeking his own comfort. He was what he was by force of circumstances, not by reason of anything over which he had any control. Each man should be a law and a government unto himself, and he would fulfill truth, justice and liberty when obeying the behest of his senses and his impulses. In this general principle all the dogmas of Anarchism was contained, and Gould was its prophet.

It is quite generally agreed that Gould is for himself above all others. Outside of the members of his family it is doubtful if he has any warm friends. He has not distinguished himself by public benefactions, and if his private charities are either large or numerous the public are not aware of it. Henry, therefore, may have a little reason for claiming him as an ally. But the shining lights among the Anarchists in this country are several lengths ahead of the position in which Henry places Gould. They are not only "each for himself" as far as obeying the behest of their senses and impulses is concerned, but they wish to nullify all laws. It is quite safe to say that Gould entertains no such wish. On the contrary he doubtless wishes that the laws were stronger and more vigorously enforced.

After all, however, Henry's statements regarding Gould mean that the money king occupies an unenviable position. His selfish hunt for money causes him to seem to be an Anarchist to a crank.