Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1904-11-04
Is It Right to Do WronpP

sively to the memory OF all the saints
OF heaven and earth, and was, there
fore necessarily day of exceptional
good will and kind deeds. 1t was once
regarded as season OF extreme happi-
ness, and it may be that to the con-
yi,ial customs which sometimes ac-
company manifestations of supreme
content, should be attributed the bois-
ferrous revelry which has finally culmi.
mated in license to do and act as one
pleases on Halloween, or the last night
in October, the one preceding the be.
ginning of the holy day. 1t can thus
be seen by what a small misstep one
may pass beyond the bounds of rea-
son, and JOY, and rectitude, to those of
revelry and rowdyism, ending in vio-
lation Of proprieties and the law.
The holiness of Halloween should
of itself conserve its peaceful and sa-
cred nature, instead of promoting dis.
order and stirring up dissension and
hatred, There is no more reason for
license to do wrong on one night
in the year than any other, and not so
much, when We consider the trend OF
thought which should attend contemp.
lation of sacred things. But as the
aphorism has it
Reason and madness are near allied
And narrow Partition their bounds dividc;'
probably no effort to solve the mys-
terry would result in anything but con-
fusion or the belief that mankind is
simply the thistle down on the current
of events, blown here and there as the
prevailing blasts sway individual con-
ditions.
1t is to prescribe course of action
for poor :rail humanity that laws are
made; and when the joyous impulse
becomes so unrestrained as to lead to
encroachments upon the rights OF
others, it is an eminently proper time
for it to be applied.
Monday night, notwithstanding
there is ample law against children
roaming the streets at night and for
protection of property, a rabDle of
score or more of foolish boys paraded
the streets tearing down fences, de-
stroying out.buildings, carrying off
gates, and obstructing highways and
sidewalks, involving, in many in.
stances, considerable private loss, to
say nothing OF menace to limb and
life, and the possibility of the city be-
coming responsible for another $1,000
damage suit to augment the burden
of the one just paid. And there were
girls, too, on the outskirts of the gang
ready to cheer and approve the lawless
acts of these miniature desperadoes.
Is it any wonder that, with such acts
perpetuated under the eyes OF parents,
there are inmates OF q State institu-
ton at Walla Walls. young in years
but old in crime, who wear the stripes
for q term of years, or that there are
the cyprians in the larger cities, who
we're once innocent children in this
beautiful hometown?
Fortunate il il that this lawlessness
has gone so far that there is q very
general disposition to call halt. AL
ready a portion of the gang out Hal.
lowe'en night have been discovered
and their parents compelled to make
good the losses; the identity of other
wrong.doers discovered and few links
of testimony will probably soon be
found that will convict, when other
matters will be brought into court for
redress. On the night, while at their
depredations. doubtless some of the
gang escaped disaster, by Thoughtful
wife drawing the cartridges from her
husbands pistol, when she heard
the mischief-makers at work on their
premises, for he snapped the "gun"
several times at the intruders before
he discovered that it had been rendered
harmless. 1t was doubtless fortunate
for all concerned that she had main
tanned clear mind, in this emergency,
for we do not believe that the owner
of the property wanted to take or en-
danger life, any more than we believe
that the mischievous boys would have
wanted to wantonly destroy property
without the secret connivance and CO.
vert approval of older heads.
The Mayor OF Seattle took ample
and effective precautions against these
hoodlum manifestations, by an orde,
requiring the youthful mischief.mak.
ers to stay in doors on halloween.
Mr.. Taylor made special effort to pro.
tect property, and afterwards to com.
pei the miscreants to make restitution
for damage incurred, but he was hsndi-
capped by inclement weather, always
dreaded for outdoor duty and dis.
inclination to incur enmity of parents
who can seen no wrong in waywardness
of their own children.
THE LITTLE BROWN MAN DEVOID OF
CoNsCIENCE.-Dr. August Greth. of
San Francisco, inventor and navigator
OF the air.ship "California Eagle" has
received q proposal from Japan to
carry dynamite into the air and let it
fall upon the Russian fleets, armies
and cities. 1t has been held that
hitherto such suggestions OF destruc-
tive appliance have met with tacit dis
favor as being barred by conceded
ideas of civilized warfare. One can
scarcely see the difference, however, in