The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1896-06-07
fATALrsM OR FREE WILL.

tons and their results very far, and the
time-honored problem hobs up serenely."
Men come and 80. rise and fan. sink or
swim; IN every case giving rise TO the
question: Was II their own merit or de-
feet. or was Il the result OF circumstances
which they could not control?
In devis.ng means for the restraint or
punishment OF criminals the question OBJ
trudes Itself very awkwardly. but always
on the side OF clemency. Was the mans
fault due to premed.tated and well-de-
signed rascality, which he could have con-
troIled had he so desired. or was II due
20 inherited defects, or bad training when
q child, over which he had no control No
intelligent and conscientious Judge can fall
to think OF these things. even though the
rigid rules Of conviction rest exclusively
or the law and the facts In evidence IL Is
cruel TO punish man for doing something
which, By virtue of his antecedents. he
was inevitably foredoomed to do.
Gases are on record In which men have
been tirewn into the hypnotic state, and
told to get pistol and shoot a certain per-
son AT o'clock the next day. Sure enough.
says tbe record. the person Influenced did
get a pistol at Ire specified time and tried
10 shoe, the individual designated. The
hypnotic suggestion persisted. even when
tbs subject was restored to his natural
state. and took effect st ne specified time.
despite this normality.
80 49, eth "a
but for the purpose Of this argument We
are not required TO bekevs 1t. The point
Ia assuming the truth Of the record.
could any Judge. under such circum-
stances, fairly convict the supposed GRIM
inal OF crime7 Tho hypnotist would In
reality be the guilty person.
/, is doubtless true that many OF the
Influences to which people are subjeeted
are reproduced In their progeny. Indeed,
this Is a fact so generally recognized that
no argument is needed TO secure Its ac-
ceptance. We hear every day Of such and
such q person taking after his father or
mother. Implying that our qualities are
stamped upon us by our relationship 20 the
past. Our free win has its place. 1t has a
certain fad Of action more or less lin
TIED. by present or anterior causes. but II
Is not altogether the ruling element IN
shaping our actions or our ending.
In commercial and political life how con-
spicuously the question presents itself. A
man selects a location and engages IN
business. II may. for example. be quiet
country town with very little present or
prospective rush OF business: place
where a living Ii possible. but The acquisi-
ton Of much wealth improbable. Two
thousand miles away. unknown to our
merchant or any other person IN the VII
iage. a few capitalists are met TO con-
slider railroad enterprise. The outcome
OF that meeting will make the little town,
and the merchant with II. The road In
buIlt. division headquarters established.
hundreds OF men put to work. and pros
peusty secured. When the capitalists met
the future destiny OF that village was in
their heads and pockets: but behind ard
beyond this were It's location ana the re-
sources OF the district. The circumstances
conspsrsns 10 make up the result we're
partly pre-exiss!ng and partly matters Of
free will
The minds OF the people. Ike cash OF
fermentsug wine. are at given time un-
derwosng a certain change OF opinion.
Some individual. perhaps wholly without
a knowledge OF this change. gives utter
ancs TO something which aeeords with Il.
The refrain IL taken up ana within few
months =. - popular and famous. II is
rot because he knows batter than other
peopls what 10 right or what Is wrong. but
that hs has struck the chord at the aus
p.clous moment. HAD he not done 50 some
ore else wcult - outgtvins may BE true
o. false. silly or profound: - matters not.
- that q secorss VITA tne popular trend.
Four years arc ire people became IN
easy. Nke The aforesaid wire. and began
- thirk thnt ne panscea for their Ills lay
IN free trade. They selected for president
a nan who was iivtng exponent ef tia;
assa. ana has beth the faculty 90 persist
eat adhesion 70 nts theory IN the FAC. CO
al evt.ease 90 its 3es;ractivensss. .nt a
Wi rover % force u upen ire people even
81 excess 90 as Legal power 80 Go 50 lie
was be-t upon working ous his theory.
wish ~. American peopls ss his tnstra-
rasns. .=a presumably. ~ tAe election. sis
willing instrument Hs was successful IN
to election because Ne struck ire psr;icu-
lsr chord which vas :, eoasoaaace With
80 puzzle rnina az sA- tine. We IA. h.a =
magnificent tAesfe-. ans millions ot Will
xIfsA political theories. and pour-a lts
contents ever The sol % ire Un.;e3 States.
nut The plants Aave not sp-ogtea: the TIL
e~s srs cgaracrinE tor overise wages. a.a
ths manager % re business has recours.
70 the EugtikA money lossers. whose free
trade doctrines - loves 50 we'll
Here We TweaT xSaIn 20 re questssa:
Wa Il tnsxstAh3s nat IRE people sAsuls 20
sA-euwh tAis experience. or vas e ere free
wsia ard p@rssssszi iteration 90 PreslAsas
Cleveland sr4 rs free trs8e .Ilses .Ass
rasae Ct poSsiesss FagAltsn wsusa say
TIE germs % ts.s telly wer~ transmitted
sza existent. sna e rtssea hut few -z@n
~sth Aar-uSrs &c break ths sssI al. f@t
sse wes2s spring I'D. wen re ether
polat 81 wsaia se ss'8 tsss "a free trsse
ieassrs were rscrs xArswa thaa those tsev
tsa<h;. az. ~ sAs sxerc<ss % tassr pxr-
sssssys powers Imposed a system o. the