Los Angeles herald., 1909-01-31
CoMMENDS THE HERALD FOR
ITS STAND AGAINST VICE

LOS ANGELES, Jan. 29.-[Editor
Herald: 1t is we'll nigh impossible to
refrain from joining the chorus of
thanksgtVtng-even from an inValid's
couch-to your journal for it's brave and
able attitude on many Of the pressing
problems of our time. And just now
especially for the superb campaign
which it has waged against the we'll
known but officially protected vices of
our city. 1t would seem that every
mother, wife and sister would cry out
although d1sfranchised as yet-against
such Infamous wrongs to the youth,
the womanhood and the future of our
land.
The guilty objector will attempt to
screen himself by urging the disgrace
which the exposure brings upon the
city. But Is not the conceaIing and
condoning an inexcusable, a childish
act? Our impulsive president shot an
arrow into the camp Of the patriotic
reformers; but when he came to face
tie facts fairly he found himself forced
to Join the ranks Of the 'muckrakers.'
If there were no muck there would be
no ''muckrakers. But alas, it is found
defling all our wide stretches, from
sea to sea.
If Los Angeles Is what it Is claimed
to be: a city Of upright, intelligent and
OASsNO PSOP4Og JOO1 L1ONS1IlOIlL VIII EuI6-
ly triumph; and If the INSCRIPTIONS
powers Of evil prevent an immediate
success, the future remains.
Aside from the other aid Of your
Journal to kindred good causes, the bal
lot for woman, charter amendments
and others, let me indorse now most
heartily your interest in and appeal for
the Mexican patriots, now a year or
more hCrded like common criminals in
IN aogI
the welfare of their people who are
now driven to desperation by the
wrongs under which they suffer-the
denial of free speech, free press, and
subject to being sent out OF sight and
shot down on any suspicion of rebellion
against all this injustice.
Consider this case: two republics con-
spring to crush their countrymen for
the crime of patriotism! Thrust into
jail without legal warrant or charge;
kept there by orders from our own at
torney general, while one charge after
another is trumpet up" only to be
disproved-the object being to keep
them lncommunicado until they can be
ra1lroaded back to Mexico to meet GER
tain death without trial or hearing.
Does not ones blood boil in ones
veins to think Of our own republic be-
ing a willing partner to such barbar-
ism? Is this In keeping with our ear
lier traditions, when Garibaldl, Kos
suth, Carl Schurz and other rebels
against despotism came to our shores
Since when this utter change? Is 1t
not since our ambitious imperialists-in
army, navy and administration-aspi red
to become a world power and abdi-
Gated our lofty position as liberty en-
Tightening the world to grovel on the
level Of other despotisms? Says the
poet:
Woe to the land, to Fastening Ills a prey
Where wealth accumulates and men decay.
To such doom our country is surely
Fastening, unless our people call an i'm
perative halt, without delay.
Are we willing to take rank among
| the nations below England and SWitzer-
land as no longer a shelter for the ref
ugees from oppression? I was hon
ored by call from a fifth member of
| this group of patriots, who was released
1t seems by some technicality, and l
found him in our long, sympathetic
chat a refined, college bred young man
as are his cOmradeS-ardent with an
unconQuerable passion for liberty and
justice; and, with true martyr spirit,
ready to die for them, If need be; a
young man Of whom any mother might
be proud, and one who had imbibed his
lofty ideals from the mother, of whom
he spoke most reverently and tenderIy.
When our charter amendments are
voted, why shall not the pro- osed mass
| meeting be called, to rally a wise and
patriotic public sentiment against this
shameful disgrace before the civilized
world? c. M. SEVERANCE.