The Thunderstorm That Cleared the Air
When panic gripped 1887 Seattle following a series of rumors, a firm stand by the Governor turned local anxiety into a surprising display of civic unity.
The story, cleaned up
A cleaned-up reading of the newspaper page: spelling and layout repaired, one story lifted off a crowded page. It follows the original closely but it is not a transcription. The original page is below; read it if a detail matters.
We publish this morning a message from Governor Semple to our citizens that will doubtless be read with much interest. It reviews his action of Saturday evening last and states his determination to maintain the law, that none may misunderstand. The Governor’s communication leads us to suppose that he does not regret his action, notwithstanding he finds, after careful investigation, that there was no cause for alarm. And like him, there are many good citizens who do not regret the occurrence of Saturday night, because, like the thunderstorm, it has cleared the atmosphere. Now the apprehensions of trouble, which were then so common, and the many vague rumors have given place to a better feeling and one of greater confidence. The scare developed the fact that ninety-nine men out of every hundred in our city are in favor of the maintenance of law, preferring peace and prosperity to disorder. The Post-Intelligencer rejoices in the fact that Governor Semple’s scare proved to be a false alarm and congratulates our city upon the strong sentiment prevailing here against any form of lawlessness.
“The scare developed the fact that ninety-nine men out of every hundred in our city are in favor of the maintenance of law, preferring peace and prosperity to disorder.”
This 1887 editorial reflects a recurring Seattle anxiety: the fear that rapid growth or labor unrest might threaten the city's 'peace and prosperity.' Just as then, Seattle often debates whether public shows of force or civic crackdowns are necessary corrections or merely reactionary responses to 'vague rumors.'
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