The Dallas express. [volume] (Dallas, Tex.) 1893-1970, 1919-10-04
THE MIRROR OF
PUBLIC OPINION

Il
N horror and indignation by cow
ardly and cruel outrage. everyone
abominates the crime itself. xet
is but an extreme result OF the gem
eral revolt against the restraint OF
obligation to others. You can not
weaken the law of obligation in small
things and expect to enforce IL IN
great ones.
Chicago is counting its dead and
injured and figuring the damage Dill
after a week of riot that apparently
started from nothing and ended IN
nothing. Yet it had lesson for
school children--and statesmen. IL
demonstrated plainly the demorali-
zing example of the rage for pen
sation among the "higher-ups" on
those who are ignorant and prone to
lawlessness.
The selfish individual drives his
highpower motor at break-neck
speed along the public highway. The
radical laborunionist calls a strike
to bring himself into spectacular
prominence. The sordid profiteer
bleeds the consumer for the sheer
ecstacy of displaying his utter con-
tempt for public opinion. The use
less fat commissioner in California
sits tight in his easy chair and laughs
at the effort of the overburdene1
taxpayer to dislodge him. The anar-
chist lies low in his cellar and would
unseat the mighty with bomb.
The same perilous spirit in vary
ing degree animates all these de-
fiers of society. Nothing is more de-
structive to the State than the public
be-damned" spirit. All those who de-
light in shocking their neighbors,
who glory in their improprieties, play
into the hands of the lawless. The
wild girl who immodestly exposes
what she considers her natural
charms on a public water front, the
wild man who secretly cherishes q
hatred for his supposed wrongs
against all happy people are both
figures on the same crazy patch
work. From baroness to bomb-throw-
ing there are many degrees of lati-
tude, but the gulf stream flows from
the equator to the Arctic.
In such sporadic outbreaks as the
Winnipeg revolt, the Chicago riots,
the promiscuous bomb-throwing at
leading citizens in the United States,
the Saturnalia of the dregs of the
human race in un-policed Liverpool,
the general strike situation that
threatens to paralyze England we
see the economic peril that springs
from this general world spirit OF
tfcfa
for all former restraints. AS the
cost Of living goes up the price Of
life goes down The same spirit
permeates not only popular tastes.
but even popular decencies and NOR
ais.
Los Angeles stands higher among
the cities of the world. Our citi-
zenship has been built up OF the
best materials. Yet iHE our own
city the other day twenty-eight d.
vorce suits were filed, as against
twenty-five marriage licenses issued
such figures hardly need comment;
they speak for themselves. But when
the lust for divorce has exceeded the
love OF marriage, even in SO highly
respected a community as Los An
geles-and when such a breakdown
OF mans hottest institution can be
passed over without ripple of COM
ment-must we not admit that the
"public-be-damned" spirit of these
near-piece days is jeopardizing some
thing even more vital than the liber-
W OF the American people-the sane
tity of the American home!
About this let us make no mis-
take. We can perpetuate the iazz
rage for disobedience to all recog-
nized standards that has arrived as
protest against the restrictions IN
war at the risk of the whole future
OF the human race, supposing II nos
slDle for a short period of anger IN
become chronic. The most explosive
plan, however, that ever lived has
not given way to a fit of active rage
Ior more than ten minutes at n
stretch. The same law applies to Ma
tional displays of temper.
Jazz Is not music. 1t is the rehe,.
lion against the orderly laws of har-
mony. The shimmie is not a dance
IL is the attempt of vulgar minds IN
sensualize an innocent pleasure m.
vorce Is not natural nor pleasant for
normal minds to contemplate. Hinder
the surface 80 per cent of the neonIa
are still normal. SOp'o
But the horrors Of the yilest war
ever inflicted on suffering humanity
nave tried the worlds soul to tbe
limit OF endurance. The reaction has
Deen violent. Human nature is mace
ing through a spasm of nrntes+
hence riots and extravagences and
lnlmodesty and jazz music and sbiro-
ME dances are seething wash ~
unrest But the spasm will NOT tuyn
INTO commissions. The whole buna,,
race VIII not consent to its own ex-
termination.
Is humanity going in the rochs9
~ seems to be-the margin Of safatv
at tunes appears to be cut down ~
recKlessly-fine line The shin is
passing through stormy seas steor9
ing closer than caution warrants e.
tne reefs. And maloontents in tbs
iocsle are trying 10 UNSTEADY Az
hand of the pilot. INC
But humanity will weather a..
present storm as II has corna .ne
.niousn similar perils in the historic
past the human race will nevar
destroy itself. 1t could not II Z
would. There is a higher destiny
swapping our ends. Neither the law.
OF men or the laws of God viii, ~.
init the fury of the moment 70 pes.
peyono the limit Of self-preservation
humanity VIII save itself from des-