Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1886-10-01
UlteriOr Motives that Serve to shape
the Ends of Justice.

VII ~ IN, tDlU1I bVENtNV, VUls !, IO0V
ClteriOr Motives that Serve to shape
the Ends of Justice.
The Seattle cOnspirators" were AZ
quilted a few days ago in Judge
Greene's court, at tibet city. The com
plant charged precisely the same Of
Tense as was made against the Olym-
pia traitors" the law was the same
under which they were tried; the same
prosecutor conducted both cases. and
all the material facts, duplicating the
parties, were as clearly proven in one
case a. the other. Why, then, was it
that jury in Olympia condemns as
reasonable, acts which the one in
Seattle virtually declares to be no Of
tense against the law? Why is it
that there is such wide difference in
administration of the same law within
such an imperceptibly small variation
in latitude? There must be some an
swer to these questions, which arise ir
the mind of every citizen as he passes
judgment upon the matter. Let US
try to discover it.
1t has been claimed that there was
an inordinate amount Of zeal displayed
by the District Attorney in the dis
charge If his duty under the c1nspir-
acy act. This may be true, but as his
term of Office had but just begun when
the Seattle disturbance took place, it
is manifestly unfair to judge him solely
BY his record in that matter. He may
have regarded the breach Of law as Of
sufficient importance to engage the at
tention of the Administration, and
thought that if an inquiry should be
made from headquarters Where was
our newly appointed U. s, Attorney
when these 'outrages' were perpetrat-
ed?" it would be an eminently good
thing to be able to respond promptly
and with emphasis" Here was l, o
Dispenser of Political Bounty" 1t
will be seen, that he may have had
powerful incentive for acting decisively,
and doubtless, now that he has been
confirmed in his acts, he will give the
same vigilant attention to violations OF
other United States laws besides those
which protect Cinnamon and corpora
tons, and employ his commanding
ability in bringing the land thieves
and other violators Of the "supreme
law" to account.
Gov. Squire wished to be retained in
Office, and he saw in this agitation a
means Of tiding over that dangerous
period when his dispensation Of politi-
cal patronage as Executive made the
tenure exceedingly precarious. The
Territorial Secretary doubtless took the
same view of the subject, and engi-
neered public meetings to sustain the
war on conspirators. The Judge OF
the Second District likewise saw in it
the means of political salvation.
There were substantial grounds for de-
manding q change OF some of the
preferred oflice-holders, such as U. 8.
Judges, in the fact that his decisions
had 90 invariably been on the side oil
corporations, and on the general belief
that his interests in certain banking
corporation disqualified him from sit.
ting as an impartial Judge in matters
affecting monetary interests that radi.
ated from the cashiers desk. All these
circumstances served to shape a pur.
pose, and that was to make the world
believe that Washington Territory
rested on dynamite boom, liable to
explode at any moment and blow this
fair portion of our good old Uncle's do.
mains into smithereens.
To justify Gov. Squire's declaration
Of martial law, it was necessary to Sc.
cure conviction of the conspirators
To show the loyalty Of the Federal Off
GERS, and the necessity of their reten
ton in Office, the whole affair had t.
be magnifed a thousand fold. Specia
juries were selected with great care
both to indict and convict. The regu
lar panels, drawn in accordance with
law, were distrusted and set aside
Tho instructions of the court were per
emptory, and when, after conviction
the Court claimed to exercise grea1
leniency in fixing the sentence, thai
prerogative was by no means strained
doubtless in the fear that light tern
might fail to keep up On impression
that would do the most good at Wash
ington.
Judge Greene, Of the court that ha
just acquitted the Seattle conspirators
had but little desire to retain his Office
His physical condition has rendere,
1t impossible to discharge ito duties a
times, and his resignation has bee,
under consideration for year or NOR
past. He has no object to subserve b,
the whooping up" process, and con
sequently the course Of justice is al
lowed to pursue the even tenor of it
way. This may account for the We,
dict just rendered.
At Tacoma, this week, with Judg
Hoyt presiding, the trial Of the Tacom
conspisatoss tskss place. The sam