The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1892-02-01
GRAND JURIHS SCORED.
Many Serm onS on Judge
Knapp's Death and
Charge.
POINT TO ONE MORAL.
Views Of the Rev. Drs. McKelyey
%Scudder, Mitchell and
Eakins-They Expect
Revolution.

The ministers of Jersey City very gen.
orally devoted their sermon last evening
to the dea h of Judge Knapp.
The Rev. Alexander McKelvey, of the
Second Presbyterian Church, chose for
his text Romans XIII, verses 3, 4 and 5.
After a suitable introduction TO his re-
marks Mr.. McKelvey said:-
''Shakspeare writes, An indiscretion
sometimes serves us well, when our deep
plots do fall and this should teach US,
There's a Divinity that doth shape Jul
ends. rough hew them as we will
>"God in His providence controls the
affa irs of governments. 1t is pleasing to
think, as we now do, of one who honored
his appointment and his position by
strict fidelity 10 his trust. Therefore is it
that we turu aside this evening from our
usual course and hold memorial SER
vices in honor of the late Judge Knapp.
With him had lutte more b n speak
ing acquaintance; bus / have had OPP
portunities to observe closely the
Judge On the bench and ] admire him
MS l see him on that impressive occasion
when his life ebbed out with the solemn
ntteIance of n faithful charge to the
Grand Jury. That his death may be a
demolition to those who heard his last re-
marks, and that his last charge may be a
benediction to our county and our State.
We would hold him and his principles be-
fore every court and dishonest official.
that the one may be encouraged, the
other warned. We feel that greater
honor to Judge Knapp cannot be done by
us at this time than to make it the Oc-
casion of speaking some truths on the
fundamental principles of civil govern
ment.
HIS Words WERE CLEAR.
"1udQe kuaDD in his charge to the Grand
Jury said, The system of the Grand
Jury, like all other systems, is designed,
in the interest Of the public to prevent
crime, and jurors cannot protect crimi-
nails. If this system does not work out
the proper ends, then it is time that some
other system be adopted
mo words could he clearer than these
on the basis of civil government. and in
the assertion by word and Implication,
that whenever a system, or a man, or II
body of men ignores. il not shields the
wrong and ceases to protect and defend
the right, then a change is Imperative.
Such utterances need no defence, and we
shall not insult your moral sense by adj
ducing arguments to prove the true basis
of civil government.
''This moral basis of civil government
will add strength to our observation
that law as existing is supreme. Under
the Roman Government, the most strict
and euuitab1e6enactments were maze in
tuc OOhtlL VI CltiAChcy "hllC u L e LIN
others, sometimes. where might too often
controlled the right, the laws
customs were oppressive. SubJection
must be made a matter of
conscience. The memorable ~utterances of
Judge Knapp are along the same line.
The law. as existing, must be honored,
says he to the Grand jury, 1t is charged
that certain classes of offences have the
protection of the Grand jury Think of
i'll! A body representing the Court, a part
A. N-..-f 10 fHz ~1 r,f ,t n,f to-, ~
criminal law. ignoring rules as plain and
as simple as possibly can be, controlled
as You are by an oath that points out,
stop in your work. that requires You dill
gently to inquire and trne presentment
make of all violations of law without eX-
ceptiou. leaving to you, as it leaves to me,
no discretion in the administration of
criminal law, bound. as we are, to admin
lister the law so long as it is upon the
statute books.
.'Tbere are true and honest words and
they Indicate the only way of safety.
Laws are at the formation of %organiZa-
tions and are their binding power. Organ
izations cannot exist without obedience
to them. In civil government dead laws
are a source of weakness; laws violated
are the breaking of the cords which bind
society in safety. In nature no law can
be violated with impunity.
Law is A NECESSITY.
$50 is it of the operation, or violation
of the law existing on the statute book.
Neglect or violation will tend toward
desintegration of society, and anarchy
and ruin will follow. and those who tam
per with the laws will be among the class
where the ruin is likely to come the more
speedily. The world over, they who
make light of laws are they who need
them the most, and upon whom. the
seventies of anarchy will ultimately
press the heaviest. The only safety is in
obedience to law. the only proper and
safe course is in legitimate efforts for the
change of those laws. which may be i'm
practicable and oppressive. From these
springs the right of revolution and dis
t~inguishes it from n rebellion.
'sLet all understand that they hold office
under the Divine appointment. II the
ultimate responsibility in all depart
ments of human government Is not to
God. what is the meaning of the oath of
office? 1t is the most serious aud solemn
form of hlasphemy. But as it is Under
stood by every sincere and honest and
honorable man, the oath is an appeal to
the all seeing aud all Knowing God, to
whom, as the Supreme Judge of all, we
are all accountable to be witnesses that
the duties in bond shall be faithfully dis
charged.
"Hence Judge Knapp, in his last charge
to the Grand Jury, in alluning to testi-
mouy which had been taken before Judge
Lippincott, and which, having it in his
hands. he was about to lay before the
Grand Jury. said:-'If thev(the witnesses)
testify before you, as they testify before
Judge Llppincott, there is but one way
in which the accused can escape. and that
is through the violation of your oaths.'
He speaks to- them again as controlled by
an oath that points out to them every
stem in their work. So the word of God
and the laws aud customs of Christian
nations raise responsibility for the faith
fnl discharge of official acts far above
any human constituencies. The supreme
obligation is to the Judge OF the whole
earth. This cannot be shifted. From
what I have seen and read WI have reason
TO feel proud of III more prominent
Judges n grateful that they have been