Arizona republican. [volume] (Phoenix, Ariz.) 1890-1930, 1907-09-10
PHOENIX. ARIZ., SEPT. 10. 1907.
RIoTING IN THE NORTHWEST.

RIOTING IN THE NORTHWEST.
The recent riots in Bellingham,
Washington. and Vancouver. b. C., are
to be deplored by law abiding people
generally. At this distance il is i'm
possible to have a very lucid under
standing of the provocatiOn that led
To such an anarchistic condition In
either city. The dispatches state that
public sentiment inclines to a defense
OF the rioters, who are composed main
Il of the working classes that We're
brought into competition with cheap
foreign labor. and that this sentiment
was stimulated by the Objectionable
personality of the Hindus, Chinese and
Japs, in short, that they are undesir-
able citizens. Granting all this to be
true, there is yet lacking a valid de-
Tense for the actions of the mobs and
the most that can be urged is an I'M
usual irritation as the result Of which
men lost their tempers and did that
which in their sober judgment they
must admit was unfair to many of
their victims and more important than
anything else, compromising for their
governments.
1t has been too often demonstrated
that no great class evils are ever
righted by the violence Of an infuriat-
ed and needless mob. The only result
that can follow is the partial satisfy
ing of a revengeful spirit, one OF the
most un-Christian qualities a civilized
people can exhibit Even that salts
faction is married by the knowledge
that in such lawless outbreaks many
innocent are made to suffer even more
poignantly than have those who feel
that they have been sinned against to
the point of justification in taking
murderous action without warrant Of
law In episodes of personal griev-
ance where life is taken, unusual ag-
gravation is sometimes permitted to
condone a crime that in but small
measure involves the state, but there
is no excuse for men gathering in hun
dreds prompted only by personal hat
red, permitting themselves to be fired
by mutual exchange Of baser pas
sions. to the point of insane and MUIR
derous outlawry that wreaks VEN
geance on the unwary, destroys prop
erty and complicates international re-
lations. There are other remedies and
though they may seem slow in their
effect they alone must be depended
upon for any lasting reforms.
IL this particular instance, however.
viewing the situation entirely from q
national standpoint, it is perhaps well
for this government that the Vancou-
yer outbreak occurred and followed so
closely on the heels of the Bellingham
Incident. No man could be 50 disre-
gardful of his better instincts as TO
say he was glad the Vancouver riots
took place, but having taken place a
good American can see a distinct ad-
vantage in the fact for this govern
ment The American assault on Brit
ism subjects at Bellingham was en-
'barrassing for the United States, but
when a similar incident happens among
the British people just across the line
and almost simultaneously. there is
indicated a fevered condition in the
minds Of the populace Of both coun-
tries, for which the respective gov
ernments are not responsible. that will
enable the settlement of delicate ques-
items through diplomatic channels
without compromise Of honor or fren-
zied demands by either side.
There is yet another feature and that
is the view of the case that will be
taken in the Orient. However regret
full it may be that Japan can now dis
cover new cause for dissatisfaction, it
is well for this country that England,
her ally, is in this incident even
greater offender against the hosts Of
the mikado.