Rheinsdorf, the German printer recently under trial at Leipsic for
attempting to blow up the German Emperor during the unveiling of the statue of Germania, has been sentenced to death. There is no doubt of his guilt, which, indeed, he did not seriously attempt to deny ; but unusual sympathy is felt for him among the Anarchists of Europe. He is not precisely an Anarchist, preaching rather an ultra-Democratic Republic, to be governed in the interests of the poor ; but he is a man of good private character, notably gentle and charitable, and of perfect personal courage. He cross-examined witnesses acutely, but defended himself mainly by justifying his ideas, which are, briefly, that the object of society should be the extinction of poverty, and that assassinations undertaken for this end are morally acts of war. We have endeavoured elsewhere to point out the entire want of wisdom in his policy, viewed from his own standpoint, and need only add here that Rheinsdorf failed entirely as a leader. His followers deserted hint in the moment of action, and most of them made an indifferent appearance in the witness-box, two of them, at least, trying to shift the capital charge on to Rheinsdorf and each other. It should be added that Rheinsdorf in the-dock said that under present conditions death was the best thing that could happen to a German workman. There are explosive forces collecting under that stone throne of Charle- magne, with its feet of cannon-balls.
