The Jackson standard. [volume] (Jackson C.H., Ohio) 1847-1888, 1880-01-22

cause, under temptation, his Will falls.
The law which society has made can
not be enforced but by its own will.
That must strengthen the officers;
that must commandrespect; that must
enforce the penalty. The question,
then, before the people OF Cincinnati
mot of the religious only, for they are
a minority: nor of the vicious only,
for they are a minority); the question
for the sober, moral, intelligent people
of all kinds, is whether they will make
and sustain laws in favor Of virtue,
morality, and decency That is the
question, and it is question quite as
serious for the business of the city as
for it's morality. What will the city
gain by being reputed city OF music
and art, if it be also reputed the most
vicious city? The question is to be
settled by the deliberate judgment of
its sober and intelligent citizens. 1t
can cal be settled by them, and in no
other way. If they determine that
vice, crime, and immortality shall run
riot on the pretense that it is liberal
and tolerant, it will take but a few
wears to reach the end. 1t will cease
to be the resort Of men who have
either capital, character, or influence.
It is not more than ten or twelve
years since the city has been going
down hill morally, and it is not diff
cult to trace exc causes. First, the
laws in favor Of the observance OF
Sunday, the decency of public exhibi-
tions, the suppression of gambling
and houses of i'll fame, have not been
enforced, except in a few spasmodlc
cases. Why have they not been en-
forced? For two reasons; one be-
cause the machinery of the law has
been made subservient to party poll,
ties, and the corrupt voters have beer
courted instead of the yirtuouss and
secondly, because there has been {
loud mouthed teaching by what il
called the liberal press and preacher:
that the laws in favor Of religion ane
virtue are illiberal and Puritanical
In one word, irreligion and immortality
have been sown broadcast, and the
seeds of such sowing bear their proper
fruit. The second cause is mainly
embodied in the last fact. The preva
lent philosophy of society in Cincin
natl seems to be that, provided you arr
free, liberal, and musical, it is no mat
ter what becomes of law, religion, ant
morals. Now, it is for the sober, en-
lightened Judgment of the people t.
determine whether this philosoph.
shall be made practical in the futur
life of the city. That is the question
1t seems to me, from a good deal o
observation, that the virtuous, intelli
gent men and women of the city ar
in large majority, and that, too, o
. all kinds and sects. But they hav
suffered themselves to be defeate'
from weakness quite common to hu
I man nature. In the first place, the.
: have been too timid, because afraid o
controversy and conflict. In othe
:, words, they have been afflicted with
e good deal of moral cowardice, an
a again, they have, in the heat Of poll
l tics, thrown themselves into the hand
n of professional politicians and dema
:, gogues, who always court the inferio
classes Of people. Now, if good law
e are to be made or enforced, virtuou
e people must resume their moral coul
e age, and teach the vicious that the
l, have no more majority of number
n than they have weight of influence.
The next thing is, "What is to (
done?" Two things First, in regar
to law. The Gazette has pointed OF
some of the most important point
Let US look into details. A new Les
l. islature has now met and will be
u power for two years. It is largel
1t composed of intelligent, experience
$ and we'll intending men, who will q
ts whatever is reasonable for the promo
a. ton Of law, order, and morality. Tt
IS general laws of the State, if they wei
7, enforced, are all in the right dire,
o ton, but they are not adapted
1t densely populated cities, which mu'
IN be governed by more detailed, direc
le and positive measures. The Legisl;
l. ture should revise the laws in relatio
ID to the protection Of Sunday 1--WE mea
l. exactly protection and not compu
IS sion), protection just like the laws res
y ulating camp meetings already enac
ed, for the protection of decency, prt
IS lection against indecent shows, actins
L and using profanity, protection again:
g, drunkenness in drinking houses, prC
"a lection for the general order, decenc,
/ and sobriety of the city. Then Cir
!e cinnati needs special courts and MI
If chinery for the enforcement of tl
7. law. In this we should learn by tn
n experience of London and New Yorl
le 1. The Police Court should be abo
t. ished, and the criminal juisdictio
e: conferred on Magistrates for all mino
Il ofenses. This will take away th
e power from one man, and confer it o
a minor courts in different sections c
e the city, more accessible and MOI
!e likely to be impartial. 2. The Who'll
Is police force should be under an execu
le tive head, whether that be the Mayo
5; or Police Commissioners. IL the lat
IL ter, then they should not be all of on
T. party, and they should be of an cd
/ number, so that, while the majority c
IS the Commissioners may determin,
y there should always be an independen
W minority g. The election of all cit
le9 Magistrates should be at a differen
q time from that of political officer
/ In that way large body Of citizen
e, will feel themselves free from part
a obligations, which in the governmen
IL IL of city is devoutly to be wished.