Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1874-12-26
SHARP AS STEELE,
OLYMPIA, Dec. 10, 1874

MIR. EDITOR q AUDITOR
Not having q newspaper at my COM
mand it is impossible for me to compete
with you in a paper war. But as you
have honored me with review in the
FIRST colum of your paper and promised
to publish my answer it is but simple
justice to the Medical Society and my
self that should reply to the article in
the STANDARD of today. In the first
place 1 do not at all feel like "boned
turkey" after a thanksgiving dinner,
and with whatever relish you MIR. Au-
ditor sat down to the repast of DEM
olishing your humble servent, you may
find that there are some bones sticking
in your throat that will be hard to swal-
low. For it seams to me that the STAN
DARD of this morning is NEARLY raising q
dust to blind the people or perhaps like
the cattle fish, it is squirting its ink in
all directions, that it can better escape
from the dilemma, that it is in.
No one would accuse you Mr.. Muir
ply, of of taking an allegorical express
ton for absolute truth, if it had not
touched the quick" and been nearer
home thrust, than you are willing to
confess. Badinage aside. There are
but few points in the STANDARDS arti-
Gle of today that are worthy of serious
answer. 1st inregard to the reiterated
charge that the Medical Society were
wanting in respect, in, respectfully but
firmly demandipg"-(the words used)
that the affairs Of the Insane Asylum
should be inquired into &c. 1t should
be remembered, that, they do not claim
to be masters of language, as is the &C
complished erudite Editor of the STAN
DARD; that this matter was entirely new
to most Of the members present; that
they were pressed for time; and that
the Medical fraternity, are not in the
habit of considering, who, or how much
it will hurt, when it falls in their way
to do disagreable duty, as long asst is
clearly shown them, that it is their duty.
And yet after full review and calm
deliberation over the matter I cannot
see that we have committed any great
error or have been wanting in courtesy
or that it could be so considered by
anyone unless he was over-sensitive or
wished to divert the arguments from
the main points of issue. I'd The
"Medical fraternity" have nothing to do
in this matter, independent or seperate
from the body of the people-it was
thrown at them without their soaking.
And if the community at large can
have their share of this extravigance
and abuse-The Medical Society since
its action can have it's proportion of the
burden. We have not, and do not,
judge Of the Asylum by er parte evil
dence-nor do we wish to Judge it ct
all-but we presented such testimony
as had come into our possession, to
those whom we thought we're the pro-
per officers to act-and insist in the
name of the people that full and fair
investigation shall be entered into; and
we no more PREJUDICE the facts than
does a committing magistrate in a
criminal prosecution when he issues a
warrent for the arrest of person who
is charged with crime, but who may
ultimately prove to be innocent. Gov.
Ferry has promised that after the holi-
days commission will be appointed as
desired and we as body shall request
q suppose ,ce ",cont" dare to demand)
that the whole testimony shall be pub
lished-no matter who it objects for the
benefit of the people. A. II. STEELE.