The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1894-03-30
SCRANTON. MARCH 30, 1894.
EVERYBODY WILL soon want to know
all about "A Yankee in Gray"
No Resnecter Of Persons.

No Respecter Of Persons.
In its zeal to criticize Scranton and
Scrantonians, the Wilkes-Bsrre Record
hiss been led. possibly by inadequate
reports, into some very ill-tempered
and unjust structures with reference TO
the local arrests of Rev. Mr.. and Mrs
Rice, the evaugelists. We quote por-
tions of the Records outbuTst. in order
the more effectually to exhibit its in
trinsic uIfairnsss
There must be queer law up in scranton
when burly policemen can bully and har-
rass an inotfsnsive aud frieudless woman
because she breaches the gospel OF Christ
There is strange Inconsistency IN the course
pursued toward this woman by Mavor
Cunnell aud his action during the Mills
revival IN Scranton tabernacle some time
ago. On that occasion the mayor Issued a
proclamation commanding incorrect; tho
proclamation merely requested this every
business man in the city 10 close his doors
upon Il certain day in order that the peo-
pie might have an opportunity to attend
the meeting The proclamation was gen.
orally complied with, although many OF
the merchants were of different religious
De-lEkN kINlA kLtg VI ANNNs - ~ ~"NA'AN'
Now, however. when an unknown man
and woman appear upon the streets to
preach the same gospel, not 80 eloqueutAy,
not so learuedly, perhaps, US ths great re-
vivallst, but in way that the poor and
lowiy can understand, they are set upon
by police ofilcors and hustled Off to the
station house like common criminals.
A moment later, after remarElng that
when Mr.. and Mrs. Rice preached in
Wilkes Barre their meetings were qui-
ct and peacsable, the Record contin-
ues:
They were not treated as mountebanks
and fakirs because they dared TO utter
the divine truths Of the Bible upon the
public streets. They We're not dragged to
the lookup while the drunkard and the
b.aSphemer was allowed " dptllo streets
with his offensive presence. Up in ScTan-
ton, however, it Is different. The suthorl-
ties Of that city seem to have forgotten
that the Savior Of mankind did not seek
the magnificent temples Of the Jews when
He began His earthly mission. They evil
dertly fail to recoiiect hat He went, not
among the rich and powerful, but among
the poor and lOwly, inculcatiug the divine
truths OF Christianity along the highways
and byways lie gathered about Him me
common people, and out under the blue
skies taught them the lesson OF salvation
The poor street evangelist iwno tries to
follow cOnscientiously in the footsteps Of
the Master: VINO brings words Of hope 10
the poor and the friendlesS who are out OF
place in the cushioned pews Of our fash
iOuable churches, should be accorded re
spectful consideration in every Christian
community. But the Pharisee exists now,
l, ,iy-h@ ht-p arp nd
nowhere has he made himself so offensive
ly manifest as in the city Of Scranton dur
ing the past week.
What are the facts in this casa2 AS
disclosed at the hearings they are
briefly these: Mr.. and Mrs Rice one
week ago, at nIghtfall. without baving
asked for a permit attempted to hold
a street meeting at Wyoming and
Lackawanna avenues. A crowd COL
lacted blockadGg this, the busiest
corner of the city Officer Fseney asked
Mr.. Rice not to cause this blockade, it
being clear violation Of a city ogdi-
nance. Mr.. Rice refused to desist from
his purposed demonstration. Officer
Feeney then placed him uader arrest.
the prisoner struggling resisting and
making threats Mayor C)nnsll at
once accorded him private hearing,
at which Mr., Rica in response to a
gsntlemanly explanation by the mayor
Of the ordinance and the officers duty
in the premises, blusteringly bade de-
dance to the mayor, the chief-ot.polics
and the whole city government. He
WAS then remanded for further hear.
ing, whsreupon Mrs. Rice urged him
TO 90 to Jail, saying abe would con-
tinus the meetings The mayor in,
formed her that he would gladly
give her a permit and detail spec
ial officer to guard the meetings
provided she would select n place that
would not interfere with ths public.
He even arranged with Postmaster
Vandling to enable Mrs Rice to speak
from the Linden street steps to the now
federal building and offered her the
protection of an officer. but she refused
both offers. declaring she would speak
when she pleased, where she pleased
and at what time she pleased, = The
subsequent arrests have been made in
pursuance Of this wiliul di5obsdie nee
Of the law. and nder the right Of the
law Of 1899 which permits police Of
fcsr to arrest, without warrant, upon
sight any violator Of municipal ordi-
nances or person guilty Of mlsdemSa-
nor. The attitude OF both Mr. and
Mrs. Rice throughout has been one of
superiority to the law and of the def
ancs to the laws local officers. 1t has
not at any point been reasonable, con-
ciliatory, humble or creditable.
In the case OF Barker vs. the COM
monwealth. appealed from Allegheny
county, the supreme court OF Pennsyl-
vania at the May term 1858, affirmed
the decision of the lower court as fol.
lows: 'The streets are common high
ways, designed for the uso Of the pub
lie in passing and repassng, and in
such temporary occupancy as is Incl
dental to the exercise Of these rights
or necessarily connected with them
No ono has right to obstruct public
street by collecting therein a large as
semblage of men or boys for the pur-
pose of addressing them lin violent,
loud and indecent language The
common highways were designed for
no such purpose. If the purposes Of
the meeting be lawful, suitable place
can bs obtained for II, without OBJ
structing the public in their undoubtsd
right Of passing along their own high
way. The liberty Of speech does not
require that the clear legal rights OF
the whole community shall be violated.
The freedom of the press is as well
deserving protection as the liberty of
speech; but no one, in his widest en-
thusiasm In favor of the former. has