Arizona republican., 1890-08-09
CRITICISM OF SAN FRANCISCO.

The san Francisco newspapers feel just the least bit sore over letter from that city to the Manchester Guar dian, in which the numerous recent murders are spoken of as an evidence of the insecurity of life in that city. The correspondent relates that in one of the schools, recently, search revealed thrty-fve revol- vers in single class. It is quite true, as the Chronicle says, that these things hurt San Francisco, and we are not surprised to see the papers squirm just the least bit over recent criticisms on the Metropolis of the Pacific. These criticisms hurt because they are true and fully justified by the facts. Life is held very cheap in San Francisco. The pistol or the knife claims at least one victim a week-fifty- two murders year. By consulting the records, we believe that the Chronicle will find that this is not an exaggerated statement. It will not do to say that these murders are confined to the criminal class. They are not, but in clude every phase of society in the city. It is not possible to say that it is some thing unusual, temporary lapse from the normal condition, due to the periodic outbreak of crimes of this character, which move as by cycles and puzzle the students of psychology. These crimes have extended through period of years and only once did the public mind assert itself, and that was when a series of cold-blooded murders, all occurring within a few weeks, were capped by the shooting of little Mamie Kelly by the tiend Goldenson. That indignation lasted few days and then the old order of things resumed sway. These crimes indicate low tone of public morals, which is emphasized by the fact that punishment does not follow them.
 It is quite likely that the story about the armed school children is fanciful, but there is another thing in connection with San Francisco's public schools that has kept more good people away from that city than all the murders ever committed there. We have reference to the scandals which have grown out of the appointment of female teachers in these schools and the immoral lives which some of these teachers lead. These scandals are many of them open and we'll known. Others have been published time and again in the public prints and still others are rich morsels for the tongues for club men and men about town. They are lasting disgrace to the city and it has become so that the world at large has learned to look upon the price of an appointment to aposi- ton in the public schools of San Fran cisco as the loss of chastity, submission to the lustful desires of director or politician with "a pull" Parents hesitate to send their children to schools conducted by such people. Hence, the unusual prosperity of private schools.
 With it's prisons filled with unpunished murderers; it's Courts of Justice con troled by Blind Boss, arbitrarily defy ing the rights of property and of person through his influence over the judges it's schools prostituted, and every politi- cal ambition of well-equipped and honor able men paralyzed by system of tyranny and corruption, it is no wonder that the peerless city of the coast has not made more rapid progress. San Francisco should not squirm over little whole some criticism, but rise in it's might, drive out "the Blind White Devil" as leached Chinese call him, put honest men on the bench, guarantee justice in the courts, hang the murderers, purify the schools, assist, instead of antagonize, tributary country and the city will take mighty strides forward.