Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1872-06-22
AN OUTRAGE.

Of the T,sbspe, was entering the store Of
T.. y. Ouimet,e, on Main Street, accom-.
panied by his wife, he vas accos,ed by Gen.
Mckinney, the Superintendent Of lpdian
Affairs. and requested to step ont on the
sidewalk Nr. Prosch readily complied,
not anticipating hostile demonstration as
he AYERS, and had no sooner proceeded be-
yond the door than he was struck vio.
lent blow npon the head by Mckinney,
with his cane. Stunned and bruised by
the sudden assault, he endeavorcd to close
with his antagonist. but in the cndcavor
tripped andJell into the gutter, where Nc
Kinney administered several other blows
with the same weapon.
1t is believed that this is a fair and i'm
partial statement Of the occurrence. 1t is
certainly just as We received it from eye.
witnesses Of the disgraceful scene. If the
origin Ct the difficulty is as stated by the
Tribune, We have no words Of condcmna.
ton too strong to characterize the assault
upon man totally unprepared for a hos.
tile meeting and thrown of his guard by
the manner and address of his assailant.
We had always thought there we're certain
"points Of honor" recognized by men Of
established fighting regulations, breach
Of which was considered unfair and dis
honorable; that among these we're foul
blows, striking when down, or taking any
unforeseen advantage Of an opponent.
But it appears We are mistaken, though
we have known men who would scorn to
resort to such expedieuts.
We hold that the acts Of public officer
are proper subjects for criticism, and that
it is the special duty Of the press to expose
all violations of public trusts. To the
press the people look for all such Informal
ton, and when it fails to set forth abuses
known to exist, through fear or favor, it
fails in the most essential particular as the
exponent of the best interests of the COM
munity from which it derives its own sup.
port. Ifthe charges made by the Tribune,
or its editor, against the Superintendent
we're untrue, Cen. Mckinney certainly
had it 10 his power to prove them to be
false, and mode Of redress guaranteed
by the laws framed for the well.being OF
society. If they are true, he could not
have adopted more thorough expedieut
for developing the proof
1t does not require much courage to as
sault with weapon an unarmcd man, and
one generally rcputed to be uon-combat-
tant. 1t adds no fresh laurels to the the
title or fame Of the General to engage in
street broils or cudsela PROSTATE foe /; and
the sympathy or confidence Of communi.
~ can never be secured or swayed by fire..
quent assaults upon peaceable citizens,
who entertain no spirit Of malice nor cher.
ish feelings Of revenge. 1t is improbable,
for it can in no event lengthen the days
allotted to man nor conduce to his happi.
| ness.
In this connection, we must condemn the
effort of the Courier to impress upon the
public the idea that the assault was pro.
voked by illusions to anybody or any thing
else than Gen. McKinney's official acts.
The item to which it doubles alludes ap.
pcared in the Tribune several weeks ago
and could not, therefore, have induced the
late assault. 1t is much more probable
that that paper is correct in attributing,
it to the letter written by Mr.. Prosch pre-.
feriug charges Of malfeasance in Office
against Mckinney, for use at Washington
Be that as it may, We hope that our town
will not be again disgraced by such scan.
dalous proceedings