Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1870-10-15

ont first di.avowiug it and afterwards cx-
casing their pcrfily by disappearing
the cause These are the facts of public
record, and no falsehood or sophistry can
wipe them out.
Incendiaries and Vigilance Committees.
Since the destruction of Mr.. Barnes
buildings by irc--an account of which we
published last wcek-scveral inccndiary
attempts have been discovered and thwart.
ell, in the most dcnsely occupied portion
Of the town. On Monday evening fire
was set in the hay-loft of the stable in the
rear of Burmestcr's saloon, which was dis
covered and subdued before it had done
much damage. About the same time
another fire was kindled in the rear of Mr.
Westbrook s residence, on the opposite
side Of Main street, which was also prompt.
ly cxtinguishcd. Had these fires got un-
der Roadway, it would hardly have been
possible to save the most denscly occupied
portion of the town from destruction.
Thesercpeatelin ccndiary attempts prove
that the town is infested by dcspcrados of
the most reckless and dangerous character,
and call for Tie utmost vigilance on the
part of every citizen, not only to guard
against future dcprcdations, but to bring
the offenders to justice.
AS might be expected, these diabolical
and unprovokcd outragcs have excited the
Indignation of our citizens to fearful de-
gree, threatening unlawful violence to any
criminal caught in the act. The Tribune
suggests the organization of Il g vi glance
Committee" "to hang the first man or men
caught setting fire to property in Olympia, -
and remarks: ave have no doubt the
summary hanging of two or three scoun-
drels caught in the commission of crime,
would have salutary effect Any thing
but that. lie is poor judge of human
nature, or the philosophy of the social Or
ganization, who deems lawlcss violence a
remedy for lawless acts. There is not in
the animal creation creature so fierce,
unreasoning and unrclenting as a mob,
freed from the restraints Of law, with pas
sion for its only guide, with the moral
sentiments paralyzcd the animal instinct
for vengeance prcdominatcs in proportion
to the superior power of man to the brute.
1t reduces the most moral and highly cul-
tivated to common level with the most
ignorant and depraved The higher the
personal responsibility of the mob, the
more damaging its influence upon society
it establishes precedent for the liccntious
and license to lawlcss inclination. An
organization of citizens for the purpose OF
aiding the civil authorities in fcrrcting out
crime and bringing the offenders to JUS
ticc, is entirely proper and commendablc
it becomes mob only when it supcrccdcs
the civil law and usurps the functions Of
courts and eXecutioncrs. The courts
of law would justify any man in shooting
down person in the act of breaking into
or setting fire to his house, but neither ne
cessity nor public policy would justify any
combination of citizens, outside the courts
in taking into their own hands the issues
of life and death.
COLoNIZING VOTERS The seats o.
the Republican Senators and Representa-
tives for Yamhill and Benton counties, in
the Oregon Legislature, we're contested on
the ground that they we're seyerally elect