The Helena independent., 1891-10-10
OUR GOOD NAME.


the city of Helena, it is matter for sin
cere satisfaction that the audacious des
perado OF Tuesday nights attack has
so speedily found himself in the clutches
OF the law. That robbery and murder
should have been attempted, twice
within forty eight hours and on each
occasion at comparatively early hour,
in almost the same spot and presumably
by the same individual, would seem to
indicate condition of affairs that is
very far from the actual truth. The Cit
liens of Helena know that such desper
ate affairs are not matter OF use and
wont. The thrill Of surprise and indig-
nation that pervaded the entire commu-
nifty on the announcement OF the at
tacks, was ample proof of the unusual
nature of the news. Our municipal gov
ernment has not always been perfect.
1t is not perfect now. We have never
been accustomed to let our right to
grumble fall into state of innocuous
desuetude. As citizens and taxpayers
we have groaned over paving and Ia
mented over grading, or at least some of
us have exercised our privilege SO to do.
But for many a long year we have looked
upon human life as equally well pro-
tected in Helena as in the streets of any
of the great cities of the world. We are
not prepared, and we do not find it nee
essary, to change the opinion now. The
mon and women of this city can walk
the streets at all hours of the day or
night with an immunity from violent at
tack that is not paralleled in New York
or Boston. tbs, further, matter of COM
mon notoriety that a woman without an
escort is never in western cities sub
jected to the petty impertinences and
insolent offers Of companionship that
render an evening walk an impossibility
for the solitary female dweller in the
cities of the east. Western gallantry
forbids all that.
The trouble, indeed is not with our
own citizens. They sincerely regret the
injury that befell brave man in the ex-
ecution of his duty and they hope for
his speedy restoration to health. But
they have not become hysterical victims
OF an imaginary reign of terror, and they
are not carrying revolvers with them for
their personal protection. Helena's diff
ficulty lies in the possible attitude of
outsiders, whose capital is or might be
invested here. Nothing could work |
more harm to our aims and objects than
the establishment of a reputation for
lawlessness, Every such incident is the |
occasion OF hundred sensational para
graphs in eastern newspapers, and af-
fords a hundred worthy editors the op-
portunity Of displaying their colossal ig-
norance about what they call the "wild |
and woody west" Sheol itself would be
Il paradise of peaceful rest compared
with the wild phantasmagoria that they
can conjure out of western affray,
where the air is thick with sulphurous
smoke and every man is equipped with
a Gatling gun and case of bowie
knives at least. Your capitalist is a
careful animal. He careth not to invest
his shekels in a land where riot dwell
eth. 1t is the capitalist that we want
always for his own good, of course-and
in the name OF common sense and truth
we beg to assure him and the world at
large that Helena is habitually as peace
full and law w-abiding as the rooms of the
best conducted Young Mems Christian
Association in the brotherhood. Come
on,