, 1885-12-24

denly. When we think Of Gen.
Grant, Gen. Mcclellan, Vice -Presi-
Dent Hendricks, ". II. Vanderbilt,
Robert Toombs, Emory Storrs, B.
Graft Brown and 4 host Of lesser
lights passing beyond the pale OF
mortality in q single year, it brings
Us to realize that history is folding it
self away in the archives ofthe past,
Soon the old war heroes and noted
contemPoraneous characters will
have Joined the gre It silent majority,
| and the destine5 of the nation will
have been entrusted to entirely new
hands.
If the present Legislature looks to
the needs of the country it will take
the necessary steps to establish a
| school for deaf mutes somewhere
within our borders. Governor Squire
IL his message referred to list OF
seventeen deaf mutes, four blind and
seven feeble minded children OF
school age in the Territory, and re-
commended provisions for the future
care of such. Part of them have
been cared for heretofore in Oregon
at the expense Of this territory, but
the majority are without any sort OF
training. As our population in
creases the number of these unfortu-
mates Will increase proportionately
and it is none to soon 80 make suita
ble provision for their care and main
tenaIce They are entitled to it ac
cording to all the traditions and poll,
cies of our government. We are
abundantly able to care for them, and
the longer necessary legislative ac-
ton on this subject is put off the
longer will injustice and neglect be
chargeable to our law makers.
The question of organizing in Port
Townsend against the Chinese has
been talked of considerably during
the past week. This paper faYors e
concerted effort to discourage the
presence of Chinese among us-by
refusing to employ or patronize them
by taking steps to get all employers
of Chinese to adopt q different poll
cy, and by securing white labor when
ever possible to take places now oc-
cupied by Chinese. We believe such
an organization, if composed princi
pally of those who own property and
have permanent interests here, would
take the question out of the hands oi
irresponsible persons who are always
likely to adopt rash and impractical,
BILE measures, to the detriment oi
public welfare and the injury of the
cause abroad, as is now the case il
San Francisco where the O'Donnells
and other hoodlums carry sway. II
is serious question that meets the
public, and must be dealt with il
trouble would be avoided. We have
pretty reliable authority that a white
woman was seen but few days age
inhaling opium in 4 Port Townsend
Chinese den; if permitted to flourish
here, they will eventually demoralize
our youth and work untold injury
If the better class of people do not
take the matter in hand now they
will be compelled to act in some form
hereafter when the irresponsible ones
get to working dynamite plots.
The present Legislature of Wash
ington Territory, is strong as tenn
perance body, It is likely the local
option bill introduced by Represen-
tative Lewis, of King county, will
become a law; at least the indica-
tions point that way. notably in the
vote on the bill for hygienic in
struction in our public school on the
subject of alcoholic stimulants. The
| local option bill, if passed however
will probably fail in the essential OBJ
iects aimed at, as it provides for hold
ing elections in voting precincts to
decide whether the manufacture and
| sale of Intoxicating beverages shall be
prohibited therein or not. In the
| country precincts prohibition will
carry in many places, but in the towns
| and cities where the sale of liquors is
specially pernicious the majority viii
b. for license every time. If the bill
were to specify districts by counties
it is likely that many whole counties
would vote prohibition by fair ma
iorities. The idea of placing this
| whole question on the principle OF
| majority rule, and leaving the people
| of each locality responsible, is good
one. We have always advocated local
option, because we believe it in full
! accord with the spirit and letter of q
| republican form of government. Six
years ago when the last local option
bill was before the Legislature il was
defeated in the House on q tie vote
by the memorable three-hours' speech
of Representative ". II. White OF
| King county, who argued the doc
trine that it was unconstitutional
that Legislative body had no legal
power to delegate Legislative power
back TO the people, Mr. White has
| seen the error of his ways, however,
| and now advocates the measure.
There is also a disposition in this
Legislature to enact q high license
law.
AFTER MANY DAYs.-We learn from