The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1895-06-15
SEATTLE. SATURDAY. JUNE rs.
NO TAMPrgrxG WITH CREDIT.

On Tuesday an election was held I'm
Pierce county for the purpose OF submit
ting TO the people proposition 10 vail
date indebtedness incurred TO defray GER
tain local expenses. There Is some doubt
as to the result. and the credit OF the coun-
Is is I'm jeopardy. There is a substantial
majority, but there seems 10 be some un-
certainty as TO whether the necessary
tbree-fifths majority has been secured.
If the debt has failed Of valuation we
shall deplore II as serious reflection not
only upon an important county. but upon
the state At large. And II the proposition
has failed to carry. although the odium
will fall upon the entire community. the
blame really attaches 10 those stupid citi-
zeus who failed 10 cast their votes. Only
one-third of the registered electors took
tho trouble to vote Notwithstanding the
fact that the present reputation and future
prosperity of the second county in the
state were ut stake.
There is no excuse for the failure TO
validate. The reasons for mourning the
debt were publicly discussed and any citi-
zen who objected to II had an opportun-
ity and the right to enioin It, AS a mat
ter OF fact there was no eerious objec-
ton raised at the time. The necessity
was well understood. the county incurred
certain obligations, IL was trusted as an
honorable debtor and IL should pay its
debts.
The fact that n community has run
serious risk OF being branded as a repu-
diator Is due to the apathy of some and
TO the rnischievous activity of others.
There ia. we regret to say. in this state.
as In others. "A small bat pernieious ele-
mont imSued with an iconoeiastic spirit
desire TO smash things. to stir up
trouble, create distrust. and. as a result
to impede prosperity. Their efforts con-
stitute a crime against the good name and
the progress OF this commonwealth: and
they must he met by the determination
and energy OF all good citizens who desire
first TO be honorable in their transactions
with all men: and second to establish the
fame Of the state of Washington as the
peer of any In the world.
Integrity Is the first essential To suc-
cess We know that the great aioritv
OF our people are honorable wide-awake
men in their own business. but they must
show no less interest In public affairs un-
less they are TO be- turned over 60 the ire
sponsihle hand of the refuse OF all PARTIES
who are seeking, I'm wild, unreasoning
way. 10. work mischief. We trust that
the official count may show that Pierce
county has sustained her good name. hut
the imminence of the danger should serve
as warning to our people that the price
they Will pay for their apathy viii be dis
aster 10 every interest In the state.
This tampering with public credit viii
not do. II must he checked by a firm
hand. No sophlstries will cover up at
tempts at reputation; no obligation can
be repaid by theories; no rhetoric will re-
vive credit where distrust has eaten its
corroding way. We must arouse ourselves
and by preccpt and vote crush ont this
teredo IN our commerce. this aphis upon
our fruit. this destructive parasite upon
our body polite