The morning Astorian. [volume] (Astoria, Oregon) 1899-1930, 1902-03-16
WHO IS REsPoNsIBLEg

Another has been added. this time att
home. to the ng-intinitely long-list
Of crimes which are the direct result
of the misuse Of intoxicants
that the crowning act in the trase-
div was not performed. in the present
instance, by the drunken man himself,
makes but little difference in a con-
sideration OF the question Of response
bility for the conditions which make
such events so deplorably common.
1t may be that the termination OF
the career Of an habituai drunkard,
without waiting for the threatened
and very probable event Of serious
crimes being committed by him, Is the
better disposition Of the case for all
concerned. But who shall have the
ten,erity to say rhat the process by
which the young man was brought to
the stage of evaporation where he
could. even under the impulse Of sud
den passion. undertake to apply so
drastic a remedy as the killing of his
own father--should not have been in
tarfarad with nv those who helped to
make it possible for the father to
brutalixe himself. by those whose duty
II is to interfere where laws are disre-
garded. and by those whose lax ap-
probation OF the privileges and obli-
cations of civilized citizenship makes
such law breaking and such negli-
gence not only possible but customary.
There are many men engaged in the
lawful business of dispensing liquor
in Astoria who. speaking without ref
erence to their business, are among the
most sober. reliable, generous and
useful Of her citizens, but there are
also men conducting saloons who are
themselves drunkards. and who sell to
men who, like themselves. are beyond
the power of control. whose appetites
are their governors. and who. but for
their families, should be placarded as
habituals. That such men are licensed
to dispense a commodity which so oft
en- leads to misery and suffering or
death for the inebriate himself, for
his family. or for the innocent by
stander, is one of the disgraces Of mu-
nicipal rule. Their carsers would be
more brief and harmless if licensed to
practice medicine. or to discharge fire.
arms on the street.
Reflections on the capablity or in
tegrity of those charged with the en- !
forcement of law need go no farther .
than to observe that what a man is
paid for doing. and swears that ne |
win do, is plainly his duty
Among savages absence of high |
moral tone and responsibility is ex-
pected. Among people whose ma
tional pride is in an, advanced enlight-
ment, and who certainly can not be
surpassed, otherwise in noble enter
prise. generosity and wise provisions
for the care the unfortunate, we have
right to hope that higher degree
Of personal interest and truer spirit
of brotherly love will demand the pro-
vision Of such methods and such men
in the machinery Of government as to
forbid the present evil.
A sudden revolution Is not suggest
ed. II affairs are not rs we would Ike
to see them we must De cohsiderate VI
the rights Of others to persist in their
wrongs as long as we make II lawful
for them to do so. Such abuses viii |
exist until the men and the women Of
our land and our city shall rise to that
plane of thought and life where the
sight OF needless suffering, the walls
Of neglected families, the self degrada-
ton of weak men. and the abuse of |
public privileges shall be considered |
far beneoth the STANDARD they are
bound to uphold.