The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1899-02-26

pany.
Even the triumph of Law in the issue
made against IL did not make the Incl
deni or the deputy snerIf!s OF the Home
Guards popular. Al the next county eiec-
ton, in November. tss6, the People Par
ty having anti-C'hinsse sympathics. swept
the county. electing every candidate ex-
e6pt cite Seattle eonst.i biz. The writer had
the pleasure of being defeated IN this cleo
ton by ore Of the men who had been
indicted for conspiracy and riot III forcing
the Chinese from their houses on Febru-
airy Z. This feeling is well illustrated by
the following dialogue between All Irish
man and the chairman al a precinct meet
ing Of the Peoples Party the evening be-
fore election,
that com-i-tee be appsnted TO go to each
vot.n' place III the mornin an see that the
ballot boxes amt stuffed before the vo,in'
begins.
The Chairman tevasivey) Oh that's
hardly necessary.
why not?''
oh they vii! hardly do that"
And what would prevint themf'
oh the eternal law of justice 10 sum-
Gent guaranty against that"
And where do ye find the eternal law
of Justice"
't0b, that's written ON mems hearts
Irishman ttriumphantiy)-And would We
expect 10 And IT written on the heart of
Il diputy sheriff
Marital law was declared February 4.
and civil authority restored February %
l>Ss An editorial of the Portland Ore
gonian of February 10 was much appre-
eated by the ciiizen-soldiers of Seatt e.
Ii was entitled: "A Test of American
ISM
Among Others were the following ex-
pressions:
cit is infinitely better that this thing
should have been done Ii was done by
citizens of the territory under territorial,
authority. than by Federal troops. II Is
not well TO lean heip.essy on national
power. The American capacity tn govern
itself so admirably demonstrated at Seattle
yesterday would not long exist without the
habit and sense OF responsibility An oc-
curreuee Ike this at an early time In the
history Of a state Is likely 10 have a great
effect upon its character for all future
time Never. so long as this affair Is
nembered will II be imagined that the
Washington militia won't FIRE" The Cit
ixen soldiery has made frse-f respected not
only at the present tsne. but for Oil the
future. The lesson is whatsoever and
more lasting having been given as IL was"
The writer begs TO acknowie ledge the wall
liable information derived from the files
of the Seattle Observation-Disclosures for 1855
and lso6. Special mention is due to hum
dreds OF men who rallied - the support
OF Law and order but the limitations OF
this paper forbid any mention Of individual
or detail of narrative. In closing | beg
10 point out the difficulty of dealing his
toricaly with any controversy in which
one has been participant. l would also
hesreak forhearance OF Judgment for those
who. with good motive, fell INTO thu error or
going outside the law To accomplish an OBJ
}ect which in itses seemed jtsSs and right
Some good and patriotic men fell into this
error regarding the Chinese. While the
cost was great, IL Is fortunate that Il was
not greater OF those par: tcipasifs in
these stirring events few could again re-
sort to force In violation III law. even An
unfortunate law, and l am sure that no
citizen--soliier OF Seattle would ever do
less for TIRE laws of hts land than he did
un the sth Of February lssf That dav
marks the transition Of the Pacific coast
In a trying hour. from disorder to order
from apprehension 20 security from pas
sion 10 reason. from unhrfdiei agitation 10
the liberty Of law.