Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1893-11-03
Defiance Of Law.

-inatiun OF Chicago's mayor, show that
fanatici>m finds an incentive from its
own acts. and that the brute creation
/. not the only part OF animated life
that becomes mad at the sight Of
blood. Edwin Gould'> life was threat
cncd, Icy some unknown crank, an
officer al the Postal Telegraph Co. in
New York was shot, DIR. Parkhurst
had reason To- believe that his life was
in Il niger; luuatic in Portland. ac-
c0r!inc Ia the Of"goninn wrote a
Threatening letter to Mayor Mason,
and Sutway, the King county crank,
began to hurl anathcmas at our State
Land Commission.
/ What has led to this abnormal de-
vel. pment OF lawlessness, unless it be
the license accorded for criticism Of
those charged with public duties and
the bitter feeling engcnirrrd lay con.
Stantlv attributing all lifc's reverses to
the arrogance and Overbearsnce OF
those who hold prominent positions in
public or business capacities?
While we regard freedom OF speech
a. cardinal right of manhood, the
privilege should not be perverted and
made to cover seditions language, or
the Incubation of principles that are
destructive OF the virtue OF the people,
or which tend 10 weaken the safe.
guards to life and property. Well
considered discussion of matters of
public propriety are productive Of
good, and to be commended; but
when the corrupt, or venal element, in
the larger communities, make this
freedom the means of bringing into
contempt those charged with execu-
ton of the rules instituted to protect
life OF the citizen, and maintain his
liberty or the pursuit OF his happiness !;
when the God-given privilege of free
dom OF speech becomes the means of
arousing the violent passions of the
mentally weak, or the morally corrupt.
and nerves the arm of the assassin to
deeds OF blood, it is time to define the
meaning of that expression so that
none may be deceived.
A few weeks ago, at public meet
ing i'll Columbia Hall, one of the
speakers expressed the opinion that it
was manifestly improper to discuss a
question that was then before the
courts for judicial decision, and he was
Immediately attacked by T. J. Miller
for daring to suggest that freedom of
speech should not be maintained at
any time and under all circumstances.
Mr.. Miller did not stop to consider that
it requires the highest order of intel
lectual endowment as, we'll as years OF
laboriaus study, to qualify man other
wise fitted for the place, to fill the po-
sition of judge. He did not pause to
ref ct that when some of our most
intelligent citizens SO far disagree on
apparently plain proposition as to
become involved in a law suit. that it
would be presumptuous for those who
may not know Blackstone from Barn
ably Rudge, to leap to the platform
and decide the matter off-handed. In
the guaranty of freedom of speech, our
iorefathers did not intend to give free
and unrestricted license to individuals
with an undue development of mouth
and paucity OF brains. Mr.. Miller
is man of too much brains not to be
able to follow up logical deduction.
He was simply using the acts of the
demagogue to keep his head on the
crest of the wave which he fondly
hoped would land him in the political
haven. He was only arousing passion
and prejudice, which sometimes breaks
beyond control, just as it did when
Prendergast, shot down Chicago's may
or. How often, when blow is struck,
do others than the main participants
become involved in the quarrel!
How often have We seen men and
women become daft under strong ex-
citement-it matters not whether it
be under the very drippings of the
sanctuary, or at fire, or in riot.
Madness and reason are near allied;
narrow partition their bounds divide"
The Chicago tragedy was the out
come of the meetings ON lakeside.
The only difference was that the rab-
bic condemned the city government
in general terms and might have been
led to attempt its complete overthrow
by leaders that could Undue them with
confidence OF success, while Prender-
CAST was specific in his grievance and
definite in his means of redress, and
was content to murder the man who
stood in the way OF his ambition.