Daily Republican., 1879-04-19
Supporting the OaIcers.

SAOl anu sOiiib OtDtT letn psIhuCo VI S"h-
izations have made arrangements for the
holding of q mass meeting OF citizens
to morrow Sunday afternoon at the
Opera House, to consider the causes
which led to the murder of Perry Dem
by and to array public sentiment on
the side of morality, and to encourage
and strengthen the hands of the Mayor
and his polics in their effort to
break up and close up the unlicensed
rum traffic carried on in the city. This
Is creditable move in the right direc.
tion and we hope the meeting which is
to be held at three o'clock will be
largely attended by our citizens. The
meeting is to be no sensational affair to
be addressed by An array Of Temper
ancs tramps that may happen to come
along, and which in nine cases out of
ten are imposters, but by our own min.
listers, ,and citizens residentin Whining.
ton and who are well known in the
community. Though there can be no
doubt of the sympathy Of the public
or that poor old murdered colored man
Cenby, the meeting is not for the pur
pose Of sympathizing with his friends,
but as we are informed to view the
causes which led to his murder in q
p actioal light, hat public opinion may
be aroused to an enforcement of,the
laws which are left unexecuted up.n
our statute books, and to inquire how
far the citizens Of Wilmington are re-
sponsible for the non enforcement Of
these laws. 1t has .en demonstrated
that the Mayor and his pol ce can
break up this illegal traffic in liquors
il they were supported by the citizens.
1t did not take them long to close up
MsManus' and Walther's dens Of infamy
after complaint was made, and what
was done with those hot beds OF vice,
can as easily be done with a score or
two more places around town which
are equally as bad. There is no use
in our people getting discouraged in
regard to enforciag tie laws sim
ply because they may happen
to hear of policeman hitnself getting
intoxicated instead Of enforcing the
laws to prevent others from becoming
30. 1t is true that but little can b, ex
pected in favor of morals from a poles
fsrce in sympathy with the liquor traf-
tic, bat they are not to be blamed too
much, for they are just what public
sentiment makes them upon this sub
ject. For years the public have folded
their arms and allowed vice in various
forms to raise its hydra head until
through the apathy of public opinion
. il might bs said to have been encour-
aged instead # being r"probated by
words and Cooked down by the force OF
moral inaCences. While there are Just
groundi for complaint againt those
who are spt cially sworn to enforce the
i.ws, they alone are hot to blame for
the growing evils Of intemperance with
its attendant train Of evils. Every clas 8
of society has to shoulder a share Of
this responsibility, so far as the duties
of citizens have been neglected. 1t is
the fault Of the people themselves thai
vice stalks abroad in the glare of mid
day, and that all through the Sabbath
day tn, unlicensed dram shops are
more crowded than the churches; that
psaceabls citizens can scarcely walk
out Delaware Avenue on beautiful
Sabbath afternoon without being jost
led against AMI insulted by druIker
Young men iron the down town broth
els, and it is tn fault Of the citizen.
generally aud collectively that there
are more young u'sn being trained W
in the same paths Of vice which SEN
the four young men who murdered
Perry DENLY 20 Jail to answer for theil
horrible crime. The present state o
society is just what tie people MAKE
it, and whenev,r r the p-opls are real J
desirous Of making a cha1ga, it will b.
made. The water o. stream canno
b. pure unless the so fIom which
it flows is pure. 1t is NJ use to fine
fault with tie pol CO for not treakin!
ND all tne den Of vic. around the city
when they have not got the a,tive co
operation OF the people. 10th mus
work tog, tner, and whenever til
people take a high"r stand upon thi
question tie Mayor and the police vii
do the lme. This We understand
the Object of the me- eeting tomorrow
not TO condemn and find fault with tn
police authorities, bu: to encoarag
the n in the faithful discharge of thri
duty, and to assure them Of the activ
sympathy and co cooperation Of the Cit
zens. or this purpose let the Oper
House be crowded tomorrow.
-R---
The ttE. e. Spi'tVug Logan.