The daily journal. (Salem, Or.) 1899-1903, 1903-08-14
WHAT
is THE
REMEDY
Can Only be Answered
by Knowing what
is the Cause
A Correspondent Ventures some
TerSe Opinions and Brings
the Blame Close
Home

brutal outrages in the South has
caused a unanimous appeal from the
American people for relief. The oc.
casional occurrence of these express
sions of want of physical control ex,
cites attention in the immediate com.
munity, but rarely plunges a nation in.
to desperate consideration OF a rene.
dy regardless of its specific nature.
However, the repeated attention which
has been drawn to one section of this
country has thrown the nation into
national sympathy. Society is crying
aloud for relief from this terrible peril,
from whose clutches none seem ex'
empt Society realizes It's imminent
danger. To arrive at an effective rem.
edy II is first necessary TO locate and
limit the responsibility where IL pri.
marily belongs Without a proper nm.
derstandlng OF where the responsible.
ty rests II Is not reasonable to ex.
pect any advancement towards the
speedy and efficient solution of this
problem of mans inhumanity to man
In a fair discussion of this question.
II is pertinent TO boldly inquire to
what extent society itself is to blame
for the prevailing conditions? To
what extent has what we term civiliza.
tion, by It's customs. habits and stand.
ards OF morality. fostered this demoD
lac outburst? The common run of hu.
manlty, busy with It's bicycles. It's
summer and winter recreation, it's
small talk and gossip, its selhshness
has no time TO think of these things.
Only as II is brought to their very
doors will this needless and absorbed
epgine OF human machinery stop long
enough to much more than contem.
plate It's horror In this silent mo.
ment of seeking out the responsible,
do we consider enough the potent part
we are daily playing in the matter of
aiding and helping on these embryon,
ic suggestions, next TO be framed into
thoughts, and lastly into action? Does
society realize itself largely contribute
ing TO this plane of thought? Travel
to and fro through all the avenues in
which society exists. and do we not
constantly meet with the thoughtless
sower OF these suggestive and dang
erous impulses? Our theatres amuse
the public by making light OF the
most sacred relation in life. Throw
its purity and subllmity 10 the dogs.
Our show windows portray to the weak
miRd the melting thought which once
terminating, grows rapidly into a
definite form. The attempt to satisfy
the carnal at the unconsidered ex.
pense OF the moral, results In our
present condition. Our newspapers.
magazines, periodicals are filled with
rich food for the degenerate mind. Our
cheapened literature excltes the low
est sentiments, rather than the high. |
er Take step further, and, dwelling
for a moment upon our individual re
sponsibility, We realize that upon this
rests the standard of the nations NOR
ality, The history of a nations life is ,
a reliable indicator of its subjects
standard OF morality. II is compare
lively simple in our respective expert
ences 10 note how We have gone forth
in the morning. pure in heart, but re-
turn with an aching void. We ex
claim and declare the wrong was sug
gested by some circumstance, some
simple word look, an article, a book,
a picture, and so on endlessly. Then
you ask, If society be made up Of these
combinations OF pictures, show win 4
dows, stages, writings, environments
and inducements, wherein is any es
cape? If society be made up of these
seeds" OF which we find our garden
oyeFrun, and its fairest flowers blight
ed, will society not see and admit its !
degree Of responsibility? Suggest &c
the degenerate mind any picture OF ,
what il suggests. but adopts the most
radical measures when the suggestion
takes root in some weak-minded indi
vidual at the cost Of public security :
When we become awake TO our rela'
ton 10 all the horrors Of this big
world and learn our individual stand. G
ard is the basic foundation, we shall I
then have started on the most effec
tive campaign ever introduced 70 les I
sen crime and stay the inhuman pro
pensities. We must cease placing be-
fore the mixed public all manner Of .
immoral suggestions. else we may
continue 10 expect revolving results
While no human being Is responsible I
for this immutable law. yet there Is