The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1875-02-25
Who is Justified?

l should like to make a few in
quiries concerning the disturbance
which occurred at the Hiram College
building New Years eve. had al
ways supposed the school was govern
cd with fairness and impartiality. If
it is / would ask why the Janitor that
struck the young man with an iron !
poker over four feet in length was not
called upon to give an account of him
self as well as the other boys that vio-
lated the rules of the school that eve-
ming. Perhaps it is not considered as
violating the rules of the school to
deal such blow (Which might have
proved fatal had it not been for very
thick cap he wore) upon fellow stu
dent, who had never laid straw in
his way. We think, if this Janitor
had been gentleman he would have
offered an apology when he saw what
he had done. Many of the students
say he acts as though he was justified.
If this is true they can all arm them
selves with iron rods and pokers and
when one of their schoolmates are seen
to disobey orders, why just hit him
over the head or ony where they
please, without saying word, that is,
if they are evil disposed enough to do
30. But have too good an opinion of
the youth of that school to think that
there is another set of boys in it that
would act in the cowardly manner
that the Janitor and his supporters
did that might. Now, we do not jus
tify any. of the Proceedings Of that
night nor we do not find any fault that
they were punished. On the contrary,
We think they were very much out of
their place, but who can for one mo-
ment suppose that so many boys can
be togather for term Of three months
without sometimes doing what they
ought not to do. Were you ever a
boy If so what would have been the
result if you had been struck over the
head with a poker for every disobedi-
ent act? Or were you one OF the kind
! that never stepped out of the path of
right and duty? now 1 would ask
which are justified-the boys that were
brim full of fun and frolic, with no
evil design in their hearts, that went
out that night TO give vent to their
penf up feelings, or the boys who
watched at the window with poker in
hand to deal out the blows to any of
the boys that might look in? Were we
to answer this question we would say
neither party. But we do not all see
alike. After this blow was dealt and
some of the party, a little more courage
GUS than the rest, was bound they
would see whe was inside, pushed in
pane of glass-ask them if you please
what they saw-we think they will
tell you that they saw a young man
watching there with poker in hand
ready for action. What this first par
ty of boys did was nothing mere than
has been done great many times be-
fore at the same school, only they have
never had traitor in the camp before
to report from one party to the other,
but this poker business is something
new and is being discussed for many
miles around. Ii we send our child
rem to school we prefer that they
should be governed by teachers in a
humane manner rather than by fell
| lou cfu6ant with an iron nolor Wa
should also prefer the blow that the
young man received Oh. the head to
the one the College received by pass
ing this act by unnoticed. CITIZEN,