, 1876-04-13
Public Decentralization.

he choice of which is left to ones own
volition, more thankless, less remunera.
tive, and more unpleasant to Ian of
ordinary sensibility. than that of an in-
dependent editor. If he performs his
simple duty to the public. honestly,
fearlessly. and conscientiously. he is
certain. to incur the hostility not only of
the vicious, but frequently of persons
of the better portion of community
perhaps of his most intimate friends.
whose personal interests may be damag-
ed or personal schemes thwarted there
by. If he neglects or attempts to evade
any of his duties as voluntary sentinel
of the public interests and public morals,
he not only forfeits the confidence of
those whose respect is worthy of esteem,
but what is worse, his own self-respect,
and renders himself liable to the impu-
ton of acting g'frone'nercensry and self
ish motives-the neanest characteristics
which disgrace journalism; for there is
no form of prostitution more detrimental
to public morals than the prostitution OF
the public press, the great artery of
popular intelligence. One of the most
eloquent and distinguished ldivines of
this country, once said in public adj
dress: "Woe to the bad man who uses
that place for bad ends! Woe to the
liar who can use the mighty engine In
his hands to spread his lies! Woe to the
coward who occupies that post' Woe
to the vile who poisons what should be
o river of pure trath and good for the
earth's refreshing - the river of the
worlds printed thoughts-with the
poison of his vileness! No! let US bear
hypocrites, and liars, and towards, and
venal time-servers in the pulpits, just
as soon as bear them at the printing
presses of this land!"
These sentiments commend the mselves
to every honest, intelligent and thinking
man. and yet how thoughtless ard lax
we all are in accepting the practical test
of this truth. For one. We are forced to
acknowledge that we have not on al
occasions maintained that standard
which has the full approval of our
iudgmeLt. A case in point is now ag-
gitating this community. AT the last
session CT the Legislative Assembly OF
the Territory, through influences that
are more easily understood here then
explained to others, an act was passed
ana approved by the Governor, creating
a lottery, oster sibly for the improve
men. of the Snoqualmie road. 1t pro-
vi6ed that ten per cent. Of the proceeds
of any lottery organized under this act
should be paid towards the contemplat-
ed Improvement. The object was one
in which the people of this city were
greatly interested. 1t was generally
understood at the time that the act was
only intended to enable Mr.. fesler TO
dispose of valuable estate in this city
in such manner as to enable him to en-
dow the road fund with about S3o, ,ooO
from the profits. while the entire pros
ceeds from the sale of tickets would &C :
crue to the advantage of Seattle, and
none of the property to be drawn could
be removed from the town. In this III
terested view of the matter it seemed as
if the entire popular sentiment OF the
community approved the measure, and
it would be folly or madness to oppose
it. We had ever regarded gambling as
one of the most debasing vices. the fruit
ful pareut of all other esimes. and lottery
gambling the most insidious and entic-
ing phase of gambling, from its quasi
respectfully acquired by legal tolers'
tier. So strongly were we impressed
with the immoral tendency of this sys-
tenn: so often had We witnessed its
provocation to grosser forms OF the same
vice; that for forty years In which we
have been principally engaged in pub
fishing newspapers, We would not, IN
der any inducement, permit lottery
advertisement to appear in our columns.
Since we have published a newspaper
in Seattle, we have rejected lottery ad-
vertising which would have netted US
several hundred dollars. solely because
we deemed it a wrong per Sc, and awful
provocative of public Generalization.
But in an ungarded moment. surround
ed BY popular sentiment that it seemed
folly to resist, urged by considerations
of personal friendship towards parties
interested, Influenced perhaps by the
example of men who held more inHuen-
tial positions, including preachers OF
the gospel and men high in civil ofhce'
We yielded our public assent to meas
ure which our conscience condemned.
Ihe result mas peeu "unt o"SH' AS
bly have been anticipated. Seattle Is
to-day, under the color of law and the
protection of the legal authorities, an
open gambling hell. in which represen-
tatiyes of all classes in community
participate. Under the act intended
for the disposal of Mr.. Yesler's prop
erty in manner which would revert to
q worthy and desirable object, the
County Commissioners have licensed
other lotteries which are mere gambling
schemes. Among these was the lottery
drawn on Monday last. upon the public
square, in the central portion of the
city, when was witnessed scene which
ought to shock the sensibilities of every