The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1892-07-25
Pastor Eakins Would Like
to Hang Mayor Wanser
Politically Higher
than Haman.
THE SUNDAY RUM TRAFFIC
Fearful Growth of the Saloon Evil
Due to Sabbath Breaking
Gross Perjury for
Votes.


as possible were there any miti-
eating circumstances. It is not to my
taste to throw mud or to call bad names.
would advocate being as forgiving as
Christ, who when he was reviled. reyiled
not again. Yet when man gives me to
understand that if vote for him and use
my influence to secure his election he will
enforce the Sunday liquor laws, and then
takes an oath Of Office which require him
10 enforce these laws. and not only de-
ceiye me but perjures himself; as God is
my judge had the power would hang
his political carcass higher than Haman
proposed hanging Modecai."
These were the concluding words of
Pastor Eakins' sermon last night on
THE Saloons, the Politicians and the
Sunday Liquor Laws" at the st. Paul's
M. e. Church, Third street.
During the course of his sermon the
energetic pastor said:-
The temperance sentiment of our
State, am sorry to say, is not strong.
We have had laws on our statute books
for nearly forty years prohibiting the
sale OF strong drinks on the Sabbath, but
no attempt has been made to enforce
them, except in fitful kind of way, here
and there, now and then that has rather
rendered 70 bring the laws into contempt
than to awaken heaithful dread of their
violation.
Temperance legislation, as it is related
to the Sabbath. is more like child's play
than anything else This state of things,
If we are not mistaken, is brought about
by two causes:-Eirst, the rum sellers
make more money on Sunday than any
one other day in the week: second. the
saloon keepers have and control great
many votes that the politicians would
like TO secure. So long as this state of
affairs exists. things will continue to be
practically as they have been from the
beginning.
TERRIFIC POWER.
III all the places licensed and other
wise III our city, engaged in the traffic of
strong drink, were on single street. they
would cover both sides of the way from
the PENNSYLVANIA ferry to the Five Cor
ners. All the churches of every name, if
brought together in similar manner
would occupy but a very limited portion
of this territory. No ore questions but
there are more people who frequent the
saloons in our city on the Sabbath than
the churches should not be surprised
If they could beat US two to one. Yet
Sunday is our day.
he church or the saloon must con-
Quer. There is natural aptipathv be-
tween them We have different aims and
purposes. in view. This world is not big
enough to contain both through all time.
When the one grows strong the other, of
necessity, grows weak. Tue church is
here TO SO train the rising generation that
its individual members will shun the
s"loons as they would pest house If
I'M ha n
II Is to complete the destruction of the
customers that are already slaves to the
appetite from strong drink and secure re
cruits from the ranks of the rising gene
rations and from the present sober law
abiding citizens to fill their places when
they fall out by the way,
THE SALOONS ADVANTAGE.
Under existing circumstances the
saloon has a great advantage over the
church in the fight. So long as it is toll
Grated in It's lawless disregard for the
Sabbath, it will make more peryerts than
The church can converts"
Discussing the closing of grocery, dry
goods and meat stores on Sunday, the
pastor said there might be some reason
why some of them should keep open
But" he added, "nlen DO not get drunk
on boots and shoes and groceries and
hardware aud dry goods. Could we only
put an end to the saloon business on
Sunday we could drive one-half of those
engaged in the traffic into other pursuits.
the saloon men Know that they could not
pay their rent and the tax Tor license
were it net for the Sabbath trade, and
this is the reason why they exhaust all
their resources to evade and thwart the
letter and the spirit of the Sunday laws.
Drinking men spend more money in the
saloons on the Sabbath than they do all
the week besides. There are two reasons
for this. They have more money to
nTTytr.
their wages on Saturday night and they
have nothing 60 do. If the saloon keepers
get hold of men Saturday night or Sun
day morning before their wives do, more
of their money will go for rum that week
than will be spent for food and clothing
and every necessary of life for the entire
family.
DUTY OF THE AUTHORITIES
with the authorities whose business
it is to see that the Sunday liquor laws
are enforced, the question ought not to
be, what will this or that class think or
do in case we close the saioons? The
question is clearly with them one of per-
sonal duty. They have taken upon them
selves n solemn oath to enforce these
with other laws. It is just as much their
duty to enforce the Sunday liquor law as
it is their duty to enforce the laws against
stealing man's money or burning down
his house 1t is 70 more of a crime to
burn down mans house than It is to
burn up the man himself with Jersey
lightning.
POLITICIANS DECEPTIONs.
1T is no business of the proper authori-
ties whether the laws are wise or unwise.
whether nine hundred and ninety
are In favor OF their enforcement and a
thousand against. If there were ten
thousand to one against their enforce
lhent, that would not relieve them of re-
sponsibiiity. They did not make the laws
and they are NOT at liberty to put their
own construction upon them rs to
whether it is bestor not that they should
be enforced. IL they are true TO their
sworn obligations thisis matter respect
ing which they have absolutely no choice.
No matter whom they may offend or whom
please, it is their duty TO see that the
saloons be closed. If the laws are unwise,
the responsibility for that rests with the
men who framed them. If popular opin-
ion be opposed TO the, enforcement of the
laws, the surest way to haye them re-
pealed is to rigidly enforce them as long
as they exist.
Henry Ward Beecher few years be-
fore his death said that he had growing
respect for the class of people known as
extremists. I confess to have very little
sympathy with crauks. like best those
who are broad-minded and arge-hearted,
ready to cultivate the utmost charity for
men and measures. Never should we
permit ourselves to pass uDrighteous
Judgment upon friend or toe. We are