St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1891-08-05

v - Nv De IHaHK6Q IOr
expressing its views but as the defender of
honesty and honorable conduct it will per-
form its duty. Many of the assailants OF Mr..
Smith are comparative strangers in the state
and not few are wholly unacquainted with
him-would not, in fact know him if they
met him on the street.
i
One of the unpleasant features Of the con-
troversy is the bitter and rancorous style of
speech INDUCED in. 1t is to be regretted that
preachers sheltered by the sanetity of the
pulpit should use the language attributed to
a ST. Paul clergyman on Sunday last viz: ''If
ever the mayor of this city is impeached and
God grant that he may be, he would simply
be receiving well merited punishment"
Rev. Buttrick says: I'VE knew that Mayor
Smith had no regard for public morals we
knew that he had no regard for his fellow
creatures; we knew that he feared not God
nor respected man. Now. we know that he
also is traitor, law breaker and q rebel"
i
Rev. W. Hoyt, of this city, floating on the
crest of this wave of vituperation, it is said.
gave the mayor of st. Paul hot roast" 1t
would be well If these gentlemen remem-
bered what the Bible teaches, Speak not
evil of dignitaries" Where K. A Smith has
been known and loved for more than a quar-
ter of century these maledictions and mis-
representations fall harmless. but outside of
this personal knowledge, he may unjustly
suffer much harm and his numberless' friends
may be grieved beyond the measure of words.
Il. A. Smith. a man who has given more
money in one year in aid of the reformatory
institutions of st. Paul than any six of his
detractors would give in their whole natural
lives. Mayor Smith has no regard for his
fellow creatures
Il
Mayor Smith has shown during his long
public life more practical sympathy for the
poor ana unfortunate than nine-tenthS of all
these self-styled reformers. Let these de-
famers institute some inquiries regarding
Mr.. Smiths public beaefactions, this private
acts of Kindness and relief have been con-
slant and strictly private) and they will dis
cover that no citizen in the proverbially gen.
erous city of ST. Paul exees him in'upright-
ness, in kindliness ofnature in well balanced
fairness and true benevolence. But way re-
peat what everybody knows and what his
calumniators will be forced to acknowledge?
His fellow citizens have for years placed him
in positions of highest trust and responsible
ity, although never an otiice-seeker, and when
the opportunity offers will gladly renew this
method of expressing their confidence in
him.
=
1t should be remembered that when Mayor
Smith at-frst declined to interfere his atten-
ton had not beer called to the law, as it had
never been indeXed. He considered the
matter as a match 10 be conducted under the
auspices of the Minnesota Athletic club,
composed largely of gentlemen of good
standing in the city who had invested large
sum of money in arranging for the contest,
| and such contests are permitted in many
cities i'll the Union. When the issue nar
! roWed itself down to a question of authority.
the mayor could not legally order an arrest,
when no breach of the law had been made.
On the other hand, while the Herald abhoIs
this fighting business, il would ask, without
lmpugning Gov. Merriams motives, had he
the authority 10 call out the militia under
arms when no breach of the peace had &C.
CURED?
This question has been raised. and several
lawyers eminent in both cities contend that
the governor and sheriff both exceeded the
powers granted them by the constitution. 1t
is seldom wise to take counsel from an ex
cited public, let the people be ever so wise
and good. Mayor Smith acted wisely, as he
| considered, under the circumstances and no
wise or good nav who knows him will justify
| the ferocity of his abusers.
i
Again, athletic sports have been common
among all peoples and practced by the best
! classes of society, and will continue to be. In
the celebrated schools of England, Rugby
! and Eton, the generators of generations of
brave men, valiant soldiers, eminent states
men and distinguished divlnes, boxing and
fencing are regularly practced, and it is not
| considered disreputabe for the students to
settle their difficulties by fighting to a finish.
| At oxford and Cambridge, and in all the con-
tinental universities, as also in nearly all the
old and famous colleges of America. the
fistic art is cultivated. 1t may be brutal for
men to fight. no doubt it is, but base ball and
foot ball are equally brutal, and yet the the
| illogical students at Princeton. as well as Yale
ana Harvard students, practice these brutal
tiles.
il
At the recent Christian Endeavor conven
ton in this city candidate for the ministry
received special attention from the fact that
he excelled in his university as a runner,
jumper and boxer. The law and order league
can do good work in trying to suppress the
more serious evils that affect society, and the
| influence of its workers will be more potent
by abstaining from abusing men whose his
| tory is replete with good works and good will
to their fellow citizens.