Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1895-03-28
THE LAWS ARE GOOD.


Editor Gdsitte: There is differ |
ence between theoretical agitation and use
full facts, as well as legitimate connec-
ton of them. There is always a supply |
of the former and often u noticeable alb
sence of the latter We have. had Of late, |
an exuberant abundance of agitation upon
such subjects as temperance-or perhaps |
more accurately, intemperance7-and COM
pulsory education legislation. We do not
doubt that many who have exercised their
gifts as agitators have honestly aud
earnestly used their energies in their
efforts because of their belief that there
was all imperative demand for what they
have done or endeavored TO do But it is
simply fidelity to truth to say that III the
progress Of the agitation there have been
many who, like the negro that was over.
taken by u thunder storm and was seeking
shelter from the rain, have been moved to
say, Good l4awd. ii it is just the same to
you, won't you please give us a leetle more
light and trife less noise.h
It is certain that in churches and halls,
| from pupits and rostrnms multtndes
| have beard such language as would lead
them to suppose that Delaware is deplora-
| bly, destitute of protection by law or
otherwise against intemperance and ignor-
| ance. 1t has been made to appear that
our State was dreadfully destitute of
| wholesome legislation with respect to
| these matters and that unless some drastic
measures of prohibition and compulsion
were promptly employed, Our beautiful
commonwealth would become the prey of
the spoiler and be overwhelmed in hope
less ruin. This would certainly be sad ii
| it were true.
To supply this urgent need we have
heard almost frantic appeals to all good
people to awake to a proper sense Of their
peril and address themselves without delay
to the framing and enactment of brand
new laws to meet the awful emergency
But the State is still TRANQUILITY holding
on its stately way. and citizens go and
come with fair degree of safety aud So
briefly Some Aesis has been oyer us.
Some law has governed US. And. i'll mp.
parently durable peace, business and
even moderate enjoyment have remained
to us. What stolid people these Della
warenns must be. that they have per-
sisted in remaining SO calm amid the
clamor and the peril
Well, the reason is. that is some persons
have cried out i'll terror because they did
not know or possibly did not care to know.
how sufficient existing laws are for much
Of the need, enough have known what
| good laws now exist to save the State from
rushing into Il wild panic. Let us look at
a very few re-assuring and comforting
facts.
First-Take the laws relating to saloons
liquor-selling and intemperunce. can
not quote all nor even the major part of
them. But for present use quote little,
having in mind not the many who are
versed in the laws and arc living COM
fOrtahly under them, but the many who
are unfamiliar with State statutes and feel
more or less disqueted under the fear and
possible conviction that we have no laws,
as is so vocilerously asserted by ontht.si-
asts, for n proper regulation of the matters
. under consideration.
/ N cha nj nr | - fE
. ware, we find:
Sec. /. No person, by himself, his agent. or
servant, directly or Indirectly shall Sci! any
, Intoxicating liquors except As herein provided.
Sec. |. Ii shall he the duty al every Justice ai
the peace, inayOe, alderman, sheriff, deputy
sheriff, coroner, constable, policeman or other
peace officer, within his county, ward. or dis
trict, whenever he shall have knowledge that
! any person, or persons, lrm or company Il OF
are selling or dispensing any intoxicating
liquor contrary 10 tue provisions OF this act Il
make complaint, or cause complaint TO be
: made before some Justice Of the peace, OF
other proper officer, VINO shall thereupun lrp
coed against such delinquent us in DINER mis-
demeanOrs.
See. d. Any officer named In section Of this
act who shall neglect or refuse 10 perform any
: OF the duties herein required shall be guilty VI
a misdemeanor and shall be liable to punish
F., meut
/ Sec. Z. The grand jury of the county shall
, present any person VINO shall he found guilty
OF violating the provisions of this act.
|
act to fortify them what further grant ol
power do the reformers need?
a Then in chapter GIG, Vol. MN, samt
| laws we read
Sec. II, Ii shall be unlawful for any person
licensed to sell liquor, as heren provided, I,
sell, give away or dispense any liquor On III,
i Lords Day, commonly called Sunday:to sell OF
: give away liquor at any time TO n minor, in
o sane person, habitual drunkard, or to an!
Il person ut the time intoxicated.
Sec. 10. M secret or Clulde9tine dDOr on
: trance shall be maintained or permitted II
Z any licensed house; no disorderly, ri0tous o
S lewd conduct snail he permitted or suffered il
A or about such house, no pawn, gift, or bledg
" shall be received or taken by any per-ol
6 licensed under this ac.; 10 gambling Of an.
n kind, under any pretense whlteyer, shall b.
n permitted or suffered in or about any licensed
!, house.
h Sec 10, any person found drunk, or excite,
II by liquor and noisy, on tho street, highway o
" other public place, may be arrested Ivy an!
7 officer, with or without warrant ana taken he
l, fore any justice OF the peace, OF other cog.
d rnltIins magistrate.
II Now, without further extracts, submit
d that the laws OF Delaware are at least $
,r good that they equip really earnest
=, genuine friends OF sobriety and good Orde
= with ample power and facilities Tor an
. legal efforts which may be required fu
y efficient operation. may say more
With the well-inforned clerk Of the peac
of our county, as lie was recently reportcC
agree i'll believing that disturbance d
our present excellent laws and agitatin
n for their repeal or displacement Dy sue
Is drafts as have been recently proposed,
1T needless, it not niisciieyOus work. WIS
At can or ought to be done to make these Law
M operative, do not undertake. now to slg
:, gest.
a. This paper will not permit me 70 "a
te more than sentence or two about con
al pulsory education.
ly The advocates oil compulsory el1catio
III have laid great stress upon the polite.
Of and criminal bearing pt ignorance oil I'll
,r branches taught it. OUR public school
70 school education is urged as the antido
~ Of crime and political suicide. Rev. VI
Ac Mayo Of tho National Burrsu of Gduc
ic, ton, came to Us to rehrarse to us 'lIO
us universal education pays, suggesting
Jir many the inquiry, Does any appreciab
nd proportion Of the people OF Wllmingtu
as believe or suppose that universal ignoranl
Il, pays i'll this country? Every days even
-' demonstrate that in this country an ign
rant man or woman is NJ u tremcndul
disadvantage. And if the beet results Il
TO be attained. liberal education is esse
he tial. But the statistics Of penal and reforr
NO atury institutions are showing now til
llc criminals are increased i'll number amul
III, those who have had whas we call pGGc
vc ton in the schools.
10 For example. one penal institution r
90 ports having received 1916 prisoners duriI
ma the year. vi these, 25b could read al
no write-Ony 90 could not.
,rls And further, of the Sd So per cent we
NO sober; " per cent were moderate urinke
nj and only 8 per cent were inlempcrate.
L4 In the earlier reports Of statistics lf til
M, kind, which were necessarily delectiy
~ we used to hear thai 50 to u per cent
no our juvenile Offenders came from idl
,te ignorant, vicious homes Now Tie No
~. centage of Juvenile offenders has taken
different relation and moves on 9TH
lines Three to seven her cent nf a.,