Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1883-10-13

The views so long entertained and so frequently
expressed by The STAR TO the proper DISPOSE
ton 70 be made OF burglars seem to be held also
by the accomplished and yersative editor OF the LOU
don Truth Referring to the refusal OF the Lon
don police authorities to arm certain members OF
the force with pistols that gentleman enters his
protest against their action In the following en-
phatic language:
"Ths IS mistake, for those constables who are
on ioneiy beats In the suburbs are put at very
unfair disadvantage IL called upon, with
truncheOn, 10 arrest burglar who is armed with
aTev0lver. Isfhere any reasonable probability
or the constable shooting an Innocent man? IT,
on the other hand, he shoots burglar, he Is per-
forming most useful act, and saving the country
CAL
This Is only one view OF the case. It presents
the economical aspect OF the question, and makes
no account OF the more important consideration
of what IS due to the protection of society In the
premises Nothing Is better established touching
the practices OF the criminal classes than the fact
that the burglar invariably goes about his busi-
ness prepared and intending to commit murder IL
necessary to accomplish his ends or escape ar
rest He ought therefore to be shot down when
ever caught In pursuit OF his calling, and the per-
son who thus puts him out Of the way of doing
further harm should, instead Of being tried for
an offence, be voted public benefactor and suit
ably rewarded.
The Chinese have shown at times real military
proweSS, but their best weapon after all is the
tongue In diplomacy they are unexcelled, and In
trucu"nt tauntS and boasts they are also easy
victors- The recent proclamation of Lin Yang Flu,
commander OF the Black Flags IS In s'Ercles Veinn
He calls the French invaders all the hard names
In the Chinese dictionary, and dares their COM
mander to lead forth his "crowd OF dogs and sheep
10 meet our army OF heroes" One can imagine the
Wagnerian din OF trumpets and drums when this
challenge was read to the Chinese troops. Apart
from its abuse. the proclamation contains very
eloquent and picturesque denunciation of foreign
conquest In the east and the sorro wful part OF 1t
Is that there Is certain element OF justice In the
arragnment "There Is no land, the author ex-
Claims, 'fOr which your mouth does not water; no
riches you do not desire to devour. Religious
teaching you employ to undermine and injure
people International commerce Is to you pre-
text for swallowing countries Yolr cruelty is In
mite. Your wickedneSs Is extreme. On your
strength you rely to debauch our women, which
excites the Indignation of God and man, and Is
uncomfortable in heaven and earth.n
Dr. Fulton caused flurry4n the Episcopal con-
vention yesterday by some pointed criticisms Of
the Mexican mission and the investigation thereof
Dy the church commissions He charged that
Bishop Riley was open to the grave censure, but
that there was disposition to "whitewaSh" the
facts. This precipitated a heated discussion, In
Which Senator EimundS came to the front, as
peacemaker, with motion of postponement,
which was carried. Or. Fulton may have been
hasty, but the subject of the Riley movement in
Mexico IS one which the Episcopal church must
treat with candor and vgor il 1t wishes the respect
OF outsiders. Its difficulties are acknowledged,
however, and the church will not be blamed for
acting with deliberatiOn 1t was wise, therefore,
TO defer discussion until the return of the second
eompiS5lOn dispatched to Mexico a month ago to
study the questions at issue.
The President and Cabinet have reached q SEN
siOie conclusion in allowing department reports to
be made public ia anticipation OF the meeting of
Congress The argument for their retention
springs from the veriest red tape. Neither Con-
greS5 nor any one VIII be anrontei Ii these docu-
ments appear IN advance of their formal and
omcial presentation, While by letting the reports
come out as soon as prepared they Will be read
and so have an Influence to be gained In no other
way. it would be additional advantage IL
each report was accompanied by an intelligent
press abstract giving the gist of the years record
and the recommendations of the head of the Office.
was In Ike manner accompanied By press sum-
mary The custom or dumping all these import
ant documents upon the newspapers at once is
absurd, and President Hayes and his Cabinet
showed good Judgment In inaugurating less for
NAL but more sensible policy-a course, are
gratiled to see, is be followed BY the pres
ens administration.