The Dallas daily herald. [volume] (Dallas, Tex.) 1873-1887, 1880-07-28
BBLL-pUNoH AND SUNDAY LAWS.

us TO task about It, and our much esteemed
and very witty friend, Gosling, characterlzes
our article as "twaddle." The article of the
Quill is short, and that we may not do it any
injustice in our reply, we publish it in full,
as follows: "The Dallas HERALD has a la
bored editorial upon the subject OF the bell
punch and Sunday laws, in which it under
takes to show that they are not Democratic
measures; that they we're mere experiments.
1t occurs TO US that such twsddle will have
but little weight with thinking public.
Does the HERALD pretend to say that the
Democratic party is SO strong in Texas that
its representatives in the last legislature as
sembled can, with impunity, saddle upon the
people obnoxious and grinding laws, even
for two years, merely that the 'pswty' may
try an experiment? If the Democratic
party, which boasts of its 100000 majority,
and had its sweeping odds in the legislature,
is not responsible for these laws, who is !?
The truth is, both are Democratic
measures framed by Democrats and adopted
by Democratic votes, and are illustrative Of
party stupidity. Now that it is seen that the
people are against them, the usual trimming
and explaining is INDUCED in. To use a
ocalism, it is too thin The people will
wake up to facts some of these days, and
when they do, these 100000 majorities, be
they for any party, will come down. No
state, no country is safe with such maiorites.
Did Texas have a restraining minority, such
laws as the ..belLpunch and Sunday law
would be swept away; such old fogies as
Roberts, would be consigned to private life,
would be encouraged, and edu-
cation would be offered the children" In
the article to which the Quill refers, the
HERALD took the strongest ground possible
;anst tho laws in question. 1t maintains
now that they are not chargeable upon the
Democratic party, and that both were exper
iments. 1t is true that Governor Roberts
did recommend in one of his messages
the adoption of the bell-punch system for
The raising of revenue from the sale of
'pirituouS, vinous and malt.liquors and to the
,xtent Of that recommendation the Demo
ratio party may be held responsible for the
aw, rs Governor Roberts was the nominee
# the party aud elected by its votes. But
he legislature considered the law an expert
nent. Much opposition was manifested
gainst it, and it was only when it was put in
he shape of an experiment that it passed.
IAN there be any better evidence of its
eing an experiment than the fact
nat retail dealers in spirituous
aous and malt liquors are required under
40 law to pay in advance to the state $3.50
IT years license, which is to be refunded
the bell-punch realizes that much or more?
o much for the bell'punch. As an expert
tent it is q failure, just as the HERALD
armed the people from the first that it
'ould be, and its voice would not be heark-
ned to, just as it is not sufficiently hesrk-
ned to now in some other equally import
ut matters. II now dies of its own weight,
nd it will be repealed by the seventeenth leg
nature. The Sunday law, we claim, was an
Experiment. too. The state had had Sunday
aw in force before, which seemed to give as
early general satisfaction as laws ever
10. We know of no class of our citizens
tho complained against it it was generally
,spectsd; it secured day of rest
Or all; Unprotected the moral and the re-
gious in their rights on that holy day, and
the same time it did not prevent any class
( our citizens whose customs and training
lstify them in indulging in social gatherings
nd amusements on our Sabbath. To
hsnge a law of this kind for one much more
evere in its requirements, and much more
igorous in its penalties was clearly and ex-
eriment, an experiment, too, that has
roven to be as great failure as the bell
lunch law, for it is in all cities and towns
cad letter on the statute book. Neither saint
or sinner can respect it, for how can a saint
aspect law that is imperative, that is
enderel nugatory by popular public opin-
On? And how can the sinner respect it
ghon he laughs it to scorn, snaps his finger
n its face in defiance and heeds not its be-
tests! 1t is the extreme of folly, the super
alive of absurdity to retain in force laws
hat cannot DO enforced. Laws only derive
heir force and effect from the consent of the
,overned, and if the people, in the majesty
# their might, the sovereignty of their will,
,ut the seal of their condemnation upon
N existing law, it is but common
ense on the part of the chosen
lawmakers to change that law
It the earliest opportunity. We have con-
family and persistently urged the futility
md folly of this law also. The HERALD
undertakes 10 say that tho Democratic party
# Texas is not responsible for these two
avs. They are the creation Of the sixteenth
legislature. Look at that body and it will
be- found that in the lower house there were
,ut of ninety-three members fifteen Green
packers and Republicans and of the remain
ler, Democrats not exceeding ten were nom-
nees of the Democratic party. The party
was 50 strong throughout the state
hat it was not deemed nee.
sssary to hold nominating conyen.