Delaware Republican. (Wilmington, Del.) 1843-1874, 1874-05-11
TEMPERANCE MOVEMENT

Judges, Officers, all Men, Women, temperance
People;
The Temperance question courts discussion,
investigation and impression. A great plea is
made fol law of prohibition but the ques-
ton of to-day in Delaware, and especially in
New Castle county, is the enforcement of the
law already made. We have a good License
Law for the present. IL requires for license, lst,
! man of good moral character I'd, he Is TO be
recommended by II or "a fieeholders of his
District, lave so much accommodation, beading,
stabliug, &C.; Sd, his application, together with
his endorsers, are TO be published three times in
2 newspapers, thus giving the public an opport,i-
nlty of knowing the character of the applicant,
of searching and knowing If his signers are
| freeolders, &c, a, the judges of the courts are
to judge if all these requisites ale met then to
judge Of the necessity, usefulness and expedi-
ency Of the license being granted, and then the
whole is lett discretionary with the Court
| This is terrible responsibility like the minls-
| ters of the Gospel they stand between the living
and the dead. tremble for their responsibility
Il feel for them. / do not doubt they greatly
! feel Tor theinselves-I do not doubt they would
| gladly have the law repealed and shift the re-
| sponsblity else here, but we cannot help 1t :;
F: tbe responsibility Is there. 1t may be binding
/ OIL them too much work, but the law is wise, for
| 1t supposes the court to be judges of law, OF
| right of the workings of earthly conditions, of
| evil uf good, of what is for the good OF COM
\ mun,tes and what Is for their evil. They call
not do Otherwise than bear the responsibility
/ God help them.
| Now, if there should be an application for
license. and there should be no remonstrance
AGAINST II, they are not bound TO graut 1t, and if
| they think more evil than good would result from
il they should refuse it. II there are remon-
slrauces and conflict between light and dark
ness, they are the judges.
! $50 darkness struggles with the light
| Till perfect day aIise
Water and fire maintain the fight
| Until the weaker dies"
| This law is a wise law. But not
only is the responsibility with the judges in
I the administration OF this law. The highest
I judicial talent, their conscience, the purity OF
| their ermine are at stake. Cod ihe deVil, the
| good uf our communities, life, death, heaven
and hell are all at issue. But there are others
Responsible the Mayor of the city, his officers,
sberiffs, magistrates, constabes, all,not only I'm
der oath, but bound by penalties for the en-
4 forcement of the law. Not these only, nor
those who are called Temperance men and wo-
| men, but the whole public, every man, woman
and child who are living In the community ac-
cording TO their sphere; Ii they have not bound
themselves by pledge or special association,
are bolnd TO do SO by the law OF the cummuni'
ty. Let Judges charge grand juries, let graud
I iuries watch over the interest of their people
and according to their oath bring to punishment
transgressors of the law, and let every man see
that all officers enforce the law aud are terror
! 70 evil doers and praise TO them that do well
/ Let no drunken man walk our streets-an ohencs
to our sight, an example of evil, and an evidence
OF law broken with impunity. Let no tavern
hauns be open on the Sabbath, aud no shop oil
saloon sell through the week who have not the
. right. If others are insensible of their obli
cations, their oaths, their Offices let temperance
t men and women who have bound themselves
. by ASSOCIATION. cali them 10 duty, hold men I,
4 their responsibility, difiuse light and love, be
fi come Witnesses, get up remonstrances, aud us,
Q with the Court those just influences which wil
= be the most effective. ALI other issues are q
, this time mere impertinencss. We will tall
- about Prohibition hereafter. d.