, 1883-10-06

SlSneu IN TINS city ana vicinity pray
ing the Legislature that the present
county Of Spokane be divided. Par
ties have worked zealOusly to have
the documents circulated, and the
success that has accompanied their
efforts has been very fiattering. The
question has been presented to every
man solicited for his signature in a
fair light. No undetermined means
has been resorted to in order to infu-
ence people, nor has any subderfuge
been used in swelling the list. Every
thing pertaining to the object has
been conducted openly and above
board. As a matter Of course the
same activity has been displayed by
Cheneyites in order to secure re-
monstrance to neutralize the effect Of
the petition, if possible. How they
have conducted their part of the work
we are not prepared to say, but pre-
sumo they have acted honestly, Il
presumption that is giving them the
benefit Of the doubt when their con-
duct in former transactions of like
nature are considered. Collectively,
they may have cherished a desire to
proceed hOnOrably, but some member
Of the community, graduate in the
school of knavery, has been guilty of
an infamous act that brings discredit
upon Cheney, and awakens a sui
cion that nothing but rottennesse.n
come out of that place. 1t is hardly
charitable to hold the entire popula-
tiOn accountable for the guilt Of Il
single individual, but if the deed we
refer to is not publicly condemned
by the people of that town, then we
must hold them in sympathy with
the perpetratOr. Last Monday, and
for several days prior to that date,
the largest Of the several petitions
was kept at Hyde 4 Stolps law office,
on Howard street. 1t was there be-
cause the office is centrally located
and was near at hand for those desir-
ing to add their names to the list.
Those having charge of the document
never dreamed of it being in danger,
entertaining no desire themselves
to resort to disreputable means for
furthering the object in view, and,
therefore, did not consider it neces-
sary to keep the list under lock and
key. Monday morning by O'Clock
several names were added to the
petition. About half an hour after
ward Mayor Glover desired to secure
another signature, when 10 and be-
hold the petition was missing. The
fact was soon noised about and ere
ated much Indignation. 1t is hard
forusto believe that the party accused
Of the theft is guilty, although the
evidence is strong against him. That
ii was some one that is an enemy to
this city there can be no doubt, yet
we are not ready to charge a man
with so despicable an act, and especi-
ally one in whom we have heretofore
placed explicit confidence. The petit
tion was several feet in length and
contained some three hundred and
fifty names. Not satisfied with this
robbery, the same party, or accom-
plice, proceeded to the Sprague House
and purlOined from the office oi that
hotel another petition containing
thirty or forty names. Instead Of
Strengthening the cause Of the oppo-
sitiOn, we believe that the disrepu-
table proceeding will rebound upon
the heads Of the perpetrators and
hasten that which they are so eager
to prevent. Among honorable men
this procedure will meet with the
contempt it merits, and any remOn-
STRANGE emanating from parties in
sympathy with that system Of bolster
ing up a policy, will be treated with
suspicion. If our Legislators are of
that class of men that we believe
they are we feel satisfied that the
chances for success are many fold
greater now than ever. To them it
will look as though an outrageous cf-
fort had been made to defeat the will
Of the people, and acting upon the
first impulse thateyould naturally be
awakened in men of principle, they
will throw the weight Of their inhu-
ence on the side Of division, even II
for no other purpOre than to show to
the world that they will not bring
discredit upon the body Of which
they are members by countenancing
dishonesty and fraud.