Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1874-07-18

frosts underth fervent rays of the noon
day sun.
Come, let ia reason together Let
those who hold adverse views make them
known through the press SO that they
may be thoroughly discussed. We be-
lieve that our cause is founded on JUS
tice If it is not, We are "open to con-
viction."
The CoMEr.-We did intend to say
something about the comet in this is
sue, but as all our contemporaries ap-
pear to have gone wild on the subject,
we are inclined to give way to per-
verse spirit and say nothing about it.
Don't think, dear reader, that we are
lodging the subject, or that great size
or extraordinary length Of tail of the
nocturnal visitor now so prominently be-
fore the public, prevents us from TAX
ing hold of his hoary name. The rea-
son is, so many quill-drivers have
" crammed" themselves, that they have
literally exhausted the cyclopadia and
leave nothing new to be said. We
may state, however, that the present
comet, called Coggia's comet by 4" right
of discovery, is fast approaching the
orbit of the earth, and as he cncoun-
tiers the fervent gaze of our people,
shows remarkable disposition to hide
his head, if not literally to turn tail on
the gaping multitude. Professor Park
hurst, of New York, states that by to-
morrow night the comets tail will have
been so expanded in the neighbcrhood
of the pole as to fill large portion of
the Northern heavens. He expects the
earth, on July ODD, to be wholly with
in the eastern edge of the comets tail;
but it may, perhaps, allay the fears of
the timid to learn that, in the opinion
of the astronomers, the tail of the
comet Of 1882 did actually enyelop the
earth for some hours. The only phe-
nomenon which attended this contact
was brilliant meteoric shower. No
appreciable effect was produced upon
the atmosphere. From the very con-
stitution of comets, as generally ac-
cepted by astronomers, it is difficult to
see what possible injury the earth
could sustain from being enveloped in
the tail of one. Both nucleus and tail
are believed to be carbon in the form of
luminous gas, and not to be made up
of multitudes of minute solid particles.
This theory seems to be substantiated
by the fact that stars have been seen
shining through comets tail.
Liberal VIEws.-It is with unaffected
pleasure we acknowledge that we have
done the Echo injustice in arraigning it
as fanatical advocate of the temper
ance cause. The last issue of that Jour
nal manifests spirit of tolerance and
magnanimity in delightful contrast with
the narrow and bigoted ideas usually
ascribed to it and its editor 1t pro-
poses a really practical solution of the
vexed problem which has attracted the
attention of philanthropists for scores
of years. Its suggestion is that the
Government assume the control of the
whisky traffic, and guarantee the purity
of all spirits sold at the bars, the same
as it does the coinage of the money by
uniform standard: We quote:
when some daring individual secretly
makes piece of counterfeit money, he de-
frauds the Government and cheats his neigh
Dor upon whom he palms it Oft. So, too the
man who would mix up a base compound
and sell it for a standard alcohol, wine, or
whisky not only defrauds his government,
but cheats his neighbor, ruins his body and
damns his soul. As in the case of the money
cOunterfeiter, SO should the punishment Of
the liquor criminal be commensurate with
his netariOus dOings."
We are glad that the temperance or
gan has finally hit upon an expedient
which will unite all sensible people in
measure of public reform. We have
time and again indicated our belief that
this untried course was the only direct
pathway out of the wilderness of doubt
and confusion in which temperance re-
formers have been cropping to so little
purpose. Let us now join hands in the
good work, and bring about the epoch
when none but good liquors will be
sold, as attested by the stamps of our
respected Uncle Samuel. Let us en-
courage the use of "apple jack, Z"
"grape-juice," and "extract of corn" in
thir virgin purity, and punish the " liq-
uor criminal" who attempts to palm off
! his &c base oomDoupds" IN q p,onn,,