The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1885-12-24
THE SAN FRANCISCO DYNAMITERs.
How the Recent Developments Are Regarded
in that City.

How the Recent Developments Are Regarded
in that City.
San Francisco Chronicle.
Let us make. no mistakes. There is nothing
new in the facts of the arrests of the dynamiter:
on Tuesday. Similar affairs have occurred be
fore in this country, as we'll as in Europe. They
are not symptoms of new disease. On the con-
trary, they are familiar accidents in the working
of social fermentation accidents with which
police and courts have constantly been required
to deal. We should be at no loss to know how to
treat them.
The symptoms as the homeopaths say, indi-
cate tine remedy. They are the fruits OF
ignorance, and the cure is increased knowledge.
For the moment, due care for the safety of
society requires the punishment of the wrong
doors. But measures OF repression only alleviate
tae pain for the time. So long the cause re-
mains the effects will recur. Dynamite must be
overcome by the enforced spread of knowledge
and the exposure of error in the clear light of
truth and reason.
The leaders of public opinion in this city are
largely responsible for the existence of such pre-
posterous bodies as dynamite clubs and revOlu-
tionary societies. Part of the price which We
pay for the inestimable boon of freedom of
speech is the liberation of the infamous balder-
dash of the sand-lot but the liberation can only
be reconcled with common sense on the condi-
ton that truth shall have its spokesman as well
as error. San Francisco has been remiss in re-
buklug wrong and stigmatizing threatened
violence in the burning words it deserves.
No society can thrive, no community can be
safe, where the best men have not the courage
to tell the truth to the people at all times-re-
CARELESS Of consequences. fearless of danger.
The people of San Francisco. who, as a whole,
are as intelligent and broad minded as any com
munity in the world, are regarded at the East
as savages, because the drivel of a parcel of
foul-mouthed ruffians-who have nothing in
common with citizens at large-goes forth to
the world unrebuked as the expression of public
opinion on this coast. If the drivel ended as it
began, in words, it might be borne but when it
leads to acts; when large bodies of men, who
should know better, openly name day on
which they declare that they will break the
laws, and other bodies of men busy themselves
with the manufacture Of dynamite bombs for
the destruction of life and property, a
point is reached where the evil can
not be endured. 1t is scant consola-
ton to say that whenever outbreaks
occur the authorities are prepared for Them and
that bloody vengeance is sure to overtake their
authors So far as the credit and prosperity of
the city are concerned. the suppression of riot
is only less injurious than its occurrence. What
is wanted is such condition of public sentiment
that riots cannot occur, and that sentiment can
not be created if the champions of disorder un-
challenged in the public arena A vast majority
of the people of this city ale on the side of law
and order But. if they hold their peace while
law-breakers fill the air with incendiary cries.
they will only have the ms elves to blame for the
inevitable consequence.
In the meantime, tbs police and detective
force deserve credit and thanks for the efficient
manner IN which they have exposed this plot
against the peace and quiet of San Francisco.