The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1890-09-28

TIT 70 b presumed that each Of the
Detnocratic newspapers Of Seattle has
SOME mot much. perhaps. but some-cir-
culation beyond the boundaries of the city
e. of the stats. Stray copies Of them are
Habls to reach the homes and family cir
cles q reputable people. Who, though en-
joyiug the advantages of well-governed
communities, may have conceived favor
ahle idea q to removal hitherward. IT Is
aale to say that this idea would have been
dispslled from the minds Of ninety
ous Of hundred Of such people who may
have happened TO read and credit any copy
Of certain newspapers published in this city
within the past week.
This class of people. surrounded at pres
ent BY refining and enrolling influences
and blessed with good government and an
honsst enforcement Of Law. are not dis
posed 70 leave these advantages behind them
and establish new homes in city which IL
overrun with gamblers and houses Of pros
utution, and 10 rseking with every kind
and grade Of vice. In defiance Of laws which
tho authorities habitually fail 70 enforce.
Most certainly none who have any regard
1of rood government or for decency would
think Of bringing their families to city in
which not only Is 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 snese vicious classes.
And yet this is the picture. painted with
every known device Of high and gaudy
coloring that for weeks past certain Seattle
newspapers have been presenting for the
dslectation of readers at home and abroad.
II they were stating the truth. or anything
having the semblancs Of truth, it were q
shame and . disgrace t0.invite those who
hare decent homes in decent communities
elsewhere 70 exchange their condition for a
home In the Sodom which these news
papers depict. II the constantly reiterated
charges Of these journals were admitted to
b true, it would force an admission that
there Is no such thing Is public virtue or
respect for 1t in Seattle.
For these journals have published ex-
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
ten or twenty citizens to ascertain the
facts. make complaint. prosecute and sup.
press these alleged evils. Buff they are to
be credited, not only are the auth critics
derelict Of duty and in collision with the
criminal classes. but public opinion is SO
dead to decency that the evils are unassailed
from any quarter. Those who make the
charges acknowledge their own dereliction
In the statement that they know OF these
ovils, who and where the lawbreakers are,
and yet announce no effort to suppress
them.
1t were small satisfaction to convince
good people abroad that these charges, in
I respect to the magnitude and degree OF the
evils. are infamously false. 1t would but
. modify their impression to convince them
/ that this city will compare favorably with
any other of equal population in the re-
gard Of the community for law and order.
1t would hardly suffice to convince them
that nowhere can be found q larger pro.
portion Of people who engage only in
reputable amusements, and who never
come In contact with or witness any such
evils as are SO freely described in these
journals.
Very naturally the answer to all this
would Be that it were hardly less desirable
TO become member Of community such
as these journals describe. than OF an
orderly and weil-governed community that
viii tolerate and maintain journals that so
foully traduce it. Manifestly there is but
one way to remove the impressions which
these defamatory publications may have
created. If citizens Of Seattle have any
seii.respect and regard for the reputation
OF their city abroad. they will on Wednes-
day next fly brand these representations
rs false. Only by an overwhelming major.
ity Tor the Republican ticket can these
kross prevarications be fifty branded and
the good name o, the city INDICATED.