The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1890-10-02
- nr.1G vanxUE.

II 4 Is - presumed that each Of the
Democrats newspapers Of Seattle has
some mot much, psrhsps, but soms-cir-
QUESTION beyond The boundaries q the city
81 81 the stats. Stray copies Of them are
liable % reach The homes and family cir
eles 81 reputable people. Who. though en-
loving the advantages Of weil-governed
communities. may hsvs conceived favor
abje jdes O 70 removal hitherward. u 10
ssfe 70 ssy that this idea would have been
dispelled from the minds Of ninety-nine
ous Of : hundred Of such people who may
have happened to read and credit any copy
81 certain newspapers published in this city
within the past week
This class Of people, surrounded ct pres
snt By refining and ennobling influences
and blessed with GOOD government and an
honest enforcement Of Law, are not dis
posed 10 leave these advantages behind them
and establish new homes in city which ID
ovsrrun With gamblers and houses Of pros
titution. and is rsskine with every kind
and grade Of vice. in defiance Of laws which
the authorities habitually iail to enforce.
Most certainly nore who have any regard
for good government or for decency would
think Of bringing their families to city in
winch not only il vice thus prevalent, but
the city authorities, backed by the domi-
nant party and BY leading citizens pos.
sessed Of wealth and culture. are In league
with these vicious CLASSES.
And yet this Il the picture. painted with
every known device Of high and gaudy
ooloring that for weeks past certain Seattle
newspapers have been presenting for the
delectation Of readers at home and abroad.
II they were stating the truth. or anything
having the semblance of truth, it were .
shame and disgrace to invite those who
have decent homes In decent communities
elsewhere 70 exchange their condition for
home In the Sod0m which these news
papers depict. II the constantly reiterated
charges of these journals we're admitted to
Be- true, It would force an admission that
there h no such thing - public virtue or
respect for it in Seattle.
For these journals have published sx-
tracts from the laws. which show that the
things they describe are forbidden.
and that no matter what the authorities
may do or neglect to do. it is competent for
the managers Of these journals. or for any
tan or twenty citizens to ascertain the
facts. make complaint. prosecute and sup
press these alleged evils. Buff they are to
b credited, not only are the auth critics
dsrslics Of duty and in collision with the
criminal classes. but public opinion IL 90
dead 70 decency that the evils are unassailed
from any quarter. Those who make the
charges acknowledge their own dereiiction
in the statement that they know Of these
evils. who and where the lawbreakers are.
and Jet announce no effort to suppress
them.
Il were small satisfaction to convince
good peopls abroad that these charges. in
respect to the magnitude and degree OF the
evils, are infamously false. 1t would but
modify their impression to convincs them
that this city viii compare favorabIy with
any other Of equal population in the re-
gard Of the community for Law and order.
II would hardly suffice to convince them
that nowhere can Be found . larger pro-
portion Of people who engage only in
reputable amusements, and who never
come In contact with or witness any such
evils - are 90 freely described In these
journals.
Very naturally the answer to all this
would b that 1t were hardly less desirable
to become member Of community such
- these journals describe. than Of an
orderly and well-governed community that
will tolerate and maintain journals that so
foully traducs it Manifestly there Is but
one way to remove the Impressions which
these dsfamatory publications may have
created. II citisens Of Seattle have any
self-respect and regard for the reputation
Of their city abroad. they will on Wednss-
day next City brand these representations
a. false. Only by IN overwhelming major
ity for the Republican ticket can these
gross prevarications be ftly branded and
the good name Of the city vinoicated.