Seattle daily post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, W.T. [Wash.]) 1881-1888, 1886-09-18
A rRIRLE LESS LIREETY.
From the Chicago Herald.

aOAA tAS OaAs@8t AA~@A-As
The pharmacy closes its poison
packages TO all corners who lack the
prescription of responsible physi-
clan. The law desires to throw
stumbling blocks in the road of the
suicide. But the whole range of ex.
plosives is open 70 every body who
chooses to buy. Sufficient dynamite
was purchased in the open market
by avowed enemies of order totally
to destroy the city. No registry was
made; no questions were asked. The
dealer was not licensed or restricted
In any way. He would bill his goods
to the Arbeiter Zeitung when Il was
preaching murder, aRd would prob
ably have ordered q policeman out
of bis place If be had called TO make
inquiry concerning the character of
his customers. The revelations 10
the courtroom since the explosion in
the Haymarket indicate with start
ling emphasis that Chicago was
sleeping on q volcano. The An
archist could speak as incendiarily
as 1t suited him, print what excite
ment TO riot he pleased, carry unre-
buked the symbol Of raplne and muir
der; his pennies were as acceptable
at the powder dealers a. the custom
Of an innocent person. He was en-
gagged undetected In the manufacture
Of bombs. Small wonder that Judge
Gary was appalled, az the quantity
and proximity Of the product IS Il
was borne into the courtroom. The
explosion Of 5 single machine now
ed down seventy policemen. In the
various arsenals captured by the au-
thoFities was the potency Of destruc-
ton to half the population Of Chi
cago. Worthless as Is the life Of q
single Anarchist. he would be refus-
ed At the chemists the drop Of prus-
sic acid that would finish his savage
career. Sacred e are the lives Of
good citizens, the Anarchist would
be able freely 10 purchase the explo-
sives that would destroy thousands Of
them. Il the men on trial are con
demned 10 the gallOws the law viii
watch ceaselessly to prevent their
cheating the hangman. No weapon,
no draught Of any kind would be
permitted them under any circam-
stances, yet when their design was
10 kill their fellow creatures BY whole.
sale all the resources Of modern
chemistry were at their disposal.
DemagOgues wanted their votes;
powder dealers were ready 70 take
their money. A bounty Is given for
wolves scaips, but these assassins Of
men were allowed 70 prosecute their
work unquestioned. This was lib
erty 10 the point Of absurdity. ItI
was license TO murder
The people Of the commonwealth
Of Illinois ought to correct some Of
their free snd easy notions. They
must regulate the sale not only Of
explosives bat also Of firearms. No
one but al assassin or Q coward car
ries a revolver. There are many
purchasers Of this weapon, and II
the premise Is correct the number Of
assassins and towards is large. Let
the community which must protect
itself know who these people are.
All dealers In explosives and In Gre
arms should be compelled 70 take
ont a license and 10 register the
names Of al buyers, their residence,
and the name and residence Of some
respectable householder who viii
vOach for them. Explosives should
be sold oaly % persons needing them
in ordinary eailings Of recognized
legitimacy. 4 proper bill on this
sabject should engage the earliest
attention Of the next Legislature.