Truth. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1901-1908, 1905-05-06

That great meh.oi, ny 49,
~ editorial published in the Wednes-
a any issue. takes the fatal affalr at
G Tt Douglas as theme and, under
~ nontion: Finding a Moral" pro-
tno oao n endeavor to find one. Alter
C,,iug the sad circumstances leading
oi 20 The shooting of Lieutenant
g pp,rt and the suicide of the would-be
ton,icide the Herald writer asks:
nWbat is the moral?" Answering it's
o,n question it goes on and says:
0Tbe moral is: Don't begin. This
non couldn't stop. There was a time
n,hon he did not drink. He had to
make a beginning, etc." All of which
ic about as sensible as it would be to
Gov of a drowned man: Don't fall
into the water. Or of a chap that had
been crushed under a ton or so OF
rock: Don't go into the mines. Or OF
a moor devil manned by railroad:
mont get in front of the cars.
~ ~
The writer regrets the shooting at
the post as much as anyone. 1t was
a sad affair. This young man who
died by his own hand was good
Young man some months ago. He
must have been an intelligent and
manly fellow or he never could have
worked his way from the ranks to
captaincy as he did, in so short
time. 1t was too bad that he began
drinking Because crazed by his in
dulgences and maddened by the
thought of the disgrace that was sure
to follow he committed the rash act
that wounded friend and sent his
unprepared spirit into the vast white
ness of eternity.
~ ~
But was he alone to blame? The
facts, as published show that his
brother officers; that his commanding
officer, knew he was drinking; knew
his failing in doing his duty. He
wasn't drunk every minute of the
time. There were minutes, hours, per
haps days when the man was not in
toxicated and could have been reas-
oned with. Why did not some friend
wearing on his shoulders the insignia
of rank, say to him: "My boy, you
are treading on a rough and danger
GUS path; let me steady you over it's
tough places. Cut out this drinking"
If the man was so far gone as to be
stepped in alchohol and incapable of
reasoning, why did not some man,
wearing the gold or the silver leaves,
or the eagle speak to him with author
lty and say: you are too good man
to waste yourself in drink. You
shall not do it, and in the doing of it
disgrace both yourself and the uni
form you wear. l command you to
save yourself. In this city where we
are located the necessary scientific
aid to cure you of the terrible disease
you are fastening upon yourself is
TO be had. For the next four weeks
your duties will be so arranged as to
permit you to avail yourself of that
ald. Go and do it," Does any one
doubt that had that course of conduct
been taken, Captain Raibourne would
not today been attending to duty?
certainly not one of the many hun
dreds in all walks of life who have
Deen ransomed themselves, either
through their own actions or the kind.
ness OF others. There's the true moral
Vi the case; there's the remedy. 1t is
all right to point out this man as an
example to others, but he is dead.
What matters it to him; what bear
ing does it have on his case? None.
no more than it does to the man who
was drowned; to the man crushed in
me mine, or to the man ground to
'eath under the iron wheels.
~ ~