The morning Astorian. [volume] (Astoria, Oregon) 1899-1930, 1904-07-05
PATRIOTISM AND INSANITY.

Between patriotism and insanity there is--or
ought to be-some distinction TO be patriot is
a great and glorious desideratum; but to be INSANE
is an appalling calamity, indicating the need lof
immediate and effectual restraint While nearly
every one will entertain feeling of the utmost
sorrow for the mentally unbalanced, at the same
time the ordinary run of people are anxious to
have the crazy man confined where his eccentricitles
will not interfere with the rights and liberties of
those whose mental equilibrium is not disturbed
Because Of the fact that patriotism has been more
or less generally regarded as one form OF insanity
on such occasions as the Fourth of July, there has
been widespread demand all over the republic for
laws that will curb the prevailing desire to go to
extremes in celebrating. In many of the larger
cities the municipal authorities have laid down rigid
regulations, and speedy punishment has overtaken
those who neglected to observe them. The cities
which have adopted stringent rules have taken a
long stride in the right direction and eventually,
should the example be followed, the annual death
and injury of several thousands of persons will be
stopped
No one who advocates reform along this line does
10 through lack Of patriotic sentiment Quite to the
contrary, it is the contention that patriotism should
not be practical license to jeopardize the lives of
eelebrants and others. Five thousand people were
killed and injured in the United States last Fourth
many of them little children. Is it necessary that
this yearly sacrifice should be made to commemorate
the signing of the declaration of independence? Ii
the death rate continues, it will not be long until
the loss Of life incident to celebration will exceed
the number Of soldiers killed in the revolutionary
war So the demand has gone up for ''sane
Fourth.
The ''insane" employ different methods of ar
irving at similar results. We have the daring fellow
who holds lighted frecrackers in his hand. The
hand belongs to him, and he has probably paid for
the frecrackers, but does it follow that he should
be permitted to risk his own personal safety and
that of those who stand admiringy by? Then We
have the criminaIy idiotic individual who throws
lighted crackers and bombs from doorways Thls
brainless fellow intends that the death-dealing mis-
sles shall explode in the street. but it too frequently
happens that the bomb explodes instead the side
walk and causes the death or injury of some un-
suspecting bystander. The man whose careessness
results in death or injury to others is criminaly re-
sponsble but is law which permits such conduct
to be regarded as complete The celebrant who
hurls torpedo and destroys the eyesight of some
passerby is genuinely sorry, no doubt, when the
consequence of his act is apparent but will sorrow
restore the sight? 1t is to be regretted that sew
eral hundred children die each year of lockjaw fol-
lowing injury on the Fourth, but we have yet to-
hear Of the manufacturer who went out of business
because his stock in trade was annually levying
tribute Of flesh and blood.
The council killed its frecracker ordinance be-
cause the Fourth was approaching J some weeks
SINCE but at that time sort of promise was made
that Immediately after the Fourth new bill would
be introduced that would require general con-
sideration for the safety Of AstOrians on the ma
TONS natal day. The promise should be kept. The
new bill ought to provide severe punishment for
any person who explodes bomb or firecracker on
sidewalk, and torpedoes should be entirely abO-
ished AS new forms Of explosives make their ap-
pearance the ordinance should be amended so as
to include them in its prescription. There's way
to curtail our patriotic death rate, and municipal
bodies will fail of their duty if they neglect to en-
ploy it.
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