, 1886-02-18
The Crisis Past.

seattle PA
After four days of alarm, anxiety
and unrest the supremacy Of law and
the authority OF the government i
once more Undisputed within the
limits Of Seattle. The city has passed
through a crisis of the most serious
nature and has come ont stronger.
better and more worthy of universal
respect and confidence that ever be
fore. The citizens have met the
occasion unitedly and determiuedly,
and have shown TO the world that
here IN the city of Seattle the grand
spirit of Americanism. the love for
American institutions and the deter
mination TO uphold American laws, Is
so strong and so general that the men
of the city do not hesitate to leave
their Offices, their stores and their
workshops and risk their lives and
their property in defense of their
country's honor and their country's
laws.
The citizens did not leave their
homes and risk their lives TO protect
the Cinnamon because they loved
them, or because they We're not anx-
ious for them TO leave the city and
the country. On the contrary, among
those who enrolled themselves in de
Tense Of the laws Wee many who have
dong been known by their Outspoken
friendship for American labor and
their unqualified opposition to the
importation Of either the coolie laboc
of Asia or the pauper labor of Europe.
IL not q r,11ncfI1n Af frfn IL ~
for or hostility to Chinese labor, bat
a question of supporting the laws or
of seeing them disregarded. The
voice that called these men to arms is
the voice of patriotism and Of honor.
1t is voice that has ever been heard
when the country was in danger, or
when its laws were violated, and 1t is
q voice that has never gone unan-
swered-a voice that will never go
unanswered so long as there are live
men capable of approaching the
grandeur of American institutions.
The fight was made for America-not
for China. 1t was struggle to up
hold the laW-not struggle made in
the interest OF the Chinese.
The city has reason to be proud of
its citizen soldiers. In all the dangers
and difficulties of the past four days
they did not finch. The most arduous
and disagreeable duties were per
formed without a murmur, and with
a spirit of obedience and loyalty that
cannot be too highly commended.
Patient through long watches, cheer
full and ready when all but dropping
from exhaustion and want CT rest, firm
and unyielding in the face of danger,
they cannot be too highly praised.
No veteran ever deserved his honors
better than do our gallant young sol
diers. The citizens will not forget
them, or the splendid spirit they dis
played.
It is now demonstrated that in no
truly American city-at least, not IN
Seattle-can the laws of the Nation
be set at naught by any body of men,
no matter what incentive to violence
they may have or what grievance they
may possess. The clear demonstra
ton of this fact is worth all that we
have gone through.
The information comes from Wash
ington that because of the recent
events in this city the friends of the
admission Of Washington territory
to the Union are discouraged and
almost contemplate Withdrawing
their support from the admission bill
now pending before Congress. This
is not unexpected. It might have
been foreseen by those who precipi-
tated the recent trouble. 1t is not
unnatural.
But, on the other hand, it is not
just. 1t is not right that this should
be barrier In our way into the Union.
Such disturbances are always likely
to occur in any community-the old
est and most civilized, as we'll as the
youngest and most crude. 1t is safe
to say that in no city in the United
States could disorder have been more
firmly met and moro completely
suppressed than it has been met and
suppressed in Seattle. This show.
that our citizens are worthy of Amer
lean citizenship In every sense of the
word. and that the upholding of a
state government could not be left to
more patriotic or more reliable men
In the light of recent and simultan-
sous events one might as well say
that the charter of the city of Lon
don should be revoked because it,
citizens are unable to restrain then
passions as to say that Washington
territory should be refused admission
into the UAion, because few indi-
viduals chose to break the laws OF
their country. If Washington Ter
ritory must bear the shame of this
outbreak, she should also be giver
the credit of suppressing it. If dis
regard of law has been shown by
some, stern, uncompromising devo-
ton to law has been displayed by
others. Let US have the honor a:
we'll as the blame.