The record-union., 1893-06-07
Sontag and Evans.

EDS. RECoRD-UNIoN: Is California a
land of law and order, or is premium to
be placed here upon crime? AS if it were
not enough disgrace to our State that
such criminals as Sontag and Evans
should be allowed 10 wander about at
their own sweet will, visiting their homes
at pleasure, entering hotels and restaur-
ants with impunity, and now and again
waylaying stage or shooting a man by
way OF employinent-as II this were not
enough, now comes the Er0Hliner with a
long article exalting one of these desper-
ate murderers as the very pattern and
example OF daring hero, about whom
cluster all the domestic virtues. 1t is
truly surprising that this man. whom a
thousand persons are eager to welcome
as brother 10 their homes, who is so like
gentle John Muir, who is a better man
and bigger man than Joaquin Miller,
/ I'VE have Miller's word for it,, had not
met the public eye through some OF the
benevolent deeds to which his amiable
and lofty nature must have prompted
him, before he gained fame at single
bound by the holding up of a train.
" can forgive much in poet. 1t is
his nature to see and to bring out all the
sentiment that is in thing and to ignore
the practical side of it. If he did not do
this he would not be poet. In him we
AOOA 4Oi u SItdG uSdl Ol unCOIlinOn-DuI
very little common-SenSe. SO 1t is not
to be wondered at that Joaquin Miller
dWells upon the pathetic aspect OF this
dark story. And how pathetic 1t is Who
can read of the pale little mother, the
seven pale children, $50 white they are
almost blue" and the old grandmother
with one of the babies wrapped up in
her apron, the poor, old withered hands
/ holding tight on to the little feet to keep
them warm" for the little boy was shak-
ing with the ague-and not feel the deepest
sympathy for the afflicted family. But
what would be thought of the surgeon,
who, when the only salvation is to cut,
should say, My feelings are too delicate
to allow me to intiict such pain"
We can forgive Miller because he is a
poet, but what shall be said of the Etc-
dDttner. Is not this sensational Journal
ism run mad? There are some who
think 1t the duty of a great newspaper to
help guard the public welfare, to exhort
officers TO their duty if there be seeming
negligence, and to cry down deeds of vio-
lence. These apparently are not the Ec-
0Htiue5's views. This newspaper ON
ploys man of world wide reputation for
his skill in the use of words to bring
all the resources of his art to throw a
glamour OF romance about blood
stained villain. OF course nobody sup
poses that the Examiner extends any in
uucement 10 chris Evans TO submit to an
interview. What right has the Ecdntine7'
to negotiate with this bandit? | am not
lawyer, but it seems to me that if I
should know the whereabouts of muir
derer, if [ should furnish him aid and
comfort, and If / should refuse to divulge
anything l might know that would as
sist in his capture, then l should be an
accessory to the crime after the fact.
Somebody ought to have more power.
Somebody ought to have the authority to
suppress the Examiner and the thousand
persons who are aiding the outlaws, to
lock them up if necessary until the muir
derers are caught. And when justice is
melted out to the principals, as is to be
hoped it one day will be, it should be
meted out to the accessories also in such
measure as they severally deserve.
BRADFORD WOODBRIDGE.
Dunnigan, Cal, June ), 1898.