The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1892-06-06
BLUE LAW ENFORCEMENT,
Mr.. Hathaway Would Like a Rigid
Sabbath, But Would Crate
fully Take Half a Loaf"

In discussing. last evening, the question
as to whether or not the Blue Laws shall
be enforced, the Rev. +. w. Hathaway.
of the Westminster Presbyterian Church,
took the ground that while he would
rather see them enforced SO far as would
conducs to a perfect observance of the
Sabbath day, there were at least many
reasons why the Sunday liquor law
should be enforced. even Ii il was i'm
possible to enforce man of the blue
la W
"The fight is on" he said. at is being
discussed in church, political and saloon
circles. What is the outcome to be? Is
it to die out. or advance until great
achievements shall be reached. We
want q religion here in Jersey City which
will make our community one in which
we will delignJ to live and make US
proud of our homes. 1t were better we
throw aside the bands of our national pol
itics and unite upon a basis OF righteous
ness and purity. This done, we will have
clean streets, good puulic schools-good
government all around. 1t is no dream.
IL is q possibility OF the future.
A PRIMARY PRINCIPLE.
The proper observance OF the Sabbath
Is vitality associated with this. 1t il a
rational law of good government. Good
RONSIHluChb Al Go AhiPoooAoAO tLO q
proper observance Of the Sabbath as for Il
flower to bloom without rain. or to main
Jain health without pure air and sun
shiue."
In describing what a Sunday under the
blue laws of old Connecticut would mean
to us. Mr.. Hathaway said:-"lt would
mean no open saloons, no open business
houses of auy kind, no open grocery or
candy stores, curtains down and
doors locked; no wheels in the
street, not even a street cur. This would
forbid all riding or even promenading for
pleasure; NJ cooking or extra work at
home; no excursions to Copey Island; no
beer gardens: no oup or crash OF band
music or toot of a locomotive; no the
aires or Eldorado, or Wild West shows.
But life in the homes would be quleter;
people would 90 to and from church in an
orderly manner. That Is the Sabbath of
the old BLU Laws. Is that the kind OF
ing to the laws of God. that is
the kind of Sabbath you van
But the question is:-'Are We tied
up TO this kind OF law under penalty OF
having no law at ali on the Sabbath Dayf'
Iu sotne places the law is so broken down
you would not know 1t was u Sabbath. 1t
Is a day of feasting and rioting. These
are the two extremes. What sort OF a
Sabbath are we to contend for? What Is
the purpose of the Sabbath? Men say To
me thew have no other time for pleasure.
How do they come to have u SabbathS
BY whose authority? 1t is an institution
Of Divine appointment, not OF mans ap-
poiutment. God brought about human
existence and appointed the Sabbath as d
| day OF rest. Should we construe the III
| junction TO remember the Sabbath day
and keep it holy as meaning take u days
| holiday for pleasure. beer drinking. In
| dulge in whatever contributes to the en-
1oyinents of a sensual life. How cal
we find any ground for such an obser'
vance.
THE WHOLE LOAF.
81 understand the Liquor Dealers AS
sociation of this county have threatened
to make the law compelling them to clost
| their saloons on Sunday obnoxious by de-
manding the enforcement of the old Blue
| Laws. There are reasons why h saloons
should be closed, even though the butcher
suops are not. Our influence should bt
to close all places of business But If we
cannot close up the butcher shop, there
is no reason why the saloon should not b.
closed. A man must eat. But Che Sd
loon only robs the laboring man Of
what he should spend for his family
to eat aud for real family
comforts, and units him for the morrow
toll. There is no argument to SUI port tn
position that we must have the whole
loaf or none Mt all. Everywhere it ha!
been found necessary To restrain and hole
incheck the liquor traffic"
eff we succeed in closing one.half thu
saloons, we may advance TO a higher pc
sition. Let good citizens call upo thu
police to enforce the law. The police are
usually willing to listen to the complaints
of good people. But no law can be thor
oughly enforced until it is imbued Will
conscience OF the people,"