The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1895-07-17
JULY II. 1895.
THIS paper as Democratic IN principles
snd is iad.pendent in its vie,os os Y" ioca!
questions.
Hoossvels and tho sunday Law.

Roosevelt and the sunday Law.
Is the law for the people or are the
people for the law? What is the primary
object Of the law, anyway? Is it to
make people happier, safer and more COM
Portable? Is it to promote the general
convenience and to protect the citizens
in their enjoyment of life?
Or is It a thing which exists for its
abstract principles? Is it a sort of Mo-
loch to which the general health, pleas
ure and convenience are to be offered up
as a sacrifice?
We are moved to ask these questions
by the attitude of Mr.. Roosevelt and
those who agree with him on the sub
ject of Sunday observance. Their posi-
ton can be put clearly and forcibly in
one brief sentence
The public be damned; enforce the
lawt
If this is the true and proper way to
look at the matter, why the dry Sunday
is a good thing, and Mr.. Roosevelt and
his aiders and abettors are wise and up
right officials, true servants of the peo-
pie" But If the law is made for the peo-
pie. and If the people AVE some rights
which even the law is bound to respect,
enforcement write him down an OPP
pressive ruffian as well as a conceited
ass.
Mr.. Roosevelt made a speech last might,
in which he e~ndeavored to explain his
position. He showed, If he showed any,
thing. that the above definition of his
position is correct. He is prepared to go
to still greater lengths in furtherance of
his craze. He has that consistency
which is said to be the virtue Of weak
minds. and he will add one form of pub
lie annoyance to another as fast as he
can organize the machinery. He alb
soluteiy does not care one cent for the
people, their wishes or their needs. His
idol is the law. He has set 1t UP as a
sort of brazen serpent. and he will
teach the people. who once dared to re-
ject him by 10000 votes. to tremble be-
fore 1t.
The closing of the liquor stores is only
a beginning. He will soon attack the soda
doubt. he will stop the cars. the excur-
sion boats and all other traffic save
going to and coming from church. for
he says he will enforce all the laws. Let
us hope he will do so. The end will come
the sooner n it will be all the more
marked.
Meantime, Roosevelt should not state
+. falsehoods in his speeches. He says the
Democratic party is responsible for the
liquor and other Sunday Blue Laws.
This he knows to be utterly and mon
strously untrue. Senator Hill gave day
and date for every one Of these tyran-
nous ~statutes. They are all the products
of Republicanism. while every alienation
is the gift of Democracy to the people.
Again. he says the present Sunday
tyranny affects rich and poor alike. The
absurd.ty of this statement is apparent.
And, again, he poses as the liquor deal
ers' benefactor. Wa there ever more
dete stable hypocrisy?
Al any rate. the people of New York
know what they have to expect. Here
is Mr. Roosevelt's anal word, I'VE shall
never let go"
Oddly enough, ven a Democratic vic
tory at the polls this fall will not force
him to do so. When the people of New
Yorkkn their blind MADNESS adopted
the Republican Constitution that most
monumental of i~nfanies last November;
they enchained themselves almost be-
yond extrication in the bonds of the
Republican party.