The morning Astorian. [volume] (Astoria, Oregon) 1899-1930, 1901-04-30

this clean city or al leas; city
where 4 degree Of protection shall be
given TO the moral welfare OF its citi-
gems We are told it would be as easy
20 turn our river into molten gold
admit the difficulty ana in the face OF
this and all other facts l say BE not
afraid and dismayed by reason OF this
grea; multitude; for the battle is not
yours but Gods
No fact in the history Of our city
Is more obvious 10 the Christian OBJ
server than that Of popular disre-
gard of morals and law. Remember
ing as one should that every viola
tion Of Gods law has its nemesis which
will sooner or later exact a costly
penalty, there can be no valid reason
for doubling that in the long run this
citv would reap larger gains by being
run on a moral basis than We can rea-
sonably hope to by running on the
present 'wide-open policy
Many Christians think il they attend
prayer-meeting they have discharged
their obligation but let me remind you
that YOU are responsible for the moral
welfare of the community in which you
live and a part Of true religion con-
sists in securing good laws and elect
ing men to office who will enforce these
laws.
What can we DO? A thousand things,
if We only mad the courage of our
convictions. If YOU will come here for
a few Sunday evenings l will tell you
n few hings We can do.
when l accuse this city Of permit
ting certain great wrongs. Of tolerating
certain vices with permitting certain
abuses to go unpunished I am told
there is 10 use trying to do anything,
thar public sentiment is not strong
enough They forget that public senti-
ment is but the aggr agate sentiment Of
the individuals. You. my brother are
a factor in that sentiment. and you
ought 20 make yourself felt. II the
best men and women Of this city. how
eyer few in number mad the courage |
to stand for a clean city much could
he accomplished.
Il believe in being fair in the enforce !
ment Of law. I commend the energy /
OF our fish warden in enforcing the law
against illegal fishing and the sharp
eye he keeps on the fshtraps TO see /
that no minor fish are taken. but I /
protest against the carelessness and in
difference displayed by some Of our Of /
fcers whose sworn duty II is to keep
an eve on the man traps Of this citv !
to see that no minor is caught in their |
meshes. I believe in fning the fish
erman when he violates the law. but /
also believe in enforcing the law
against the greater transgressor. Il
does not require a very high degree Of
to see a discrimination here
A man goes INTO one Of our saloons to-
night Notwithstanding our Sunday law.
He drinks the vile stuff sold there. loses
his senses, goes out on the street and
violates some law. is arrested tomorrow
morning. He will hear the police judge
say ten dollars and costs. Now !
have nothing 10 say against the police
man for arresting or the judge for fin
ing him. They simply DO their duty.
He violated law and he ought to suf-
fer the penalty. But I protest against
letting the one go free who in selling
him rhe drug violates the Sunday law
simply because he pays into the city
few cents in the way Of
taxes.
Il am told that this 'wide-open pol
Icy that has brought the fair name Of
our city into disrepute is necessary for
he running Of our city That We must
have the revenue derived from these
things. What cowardly and humiliat-
ng position for this city TO assume
before the eyes Of the world, tell you
Then this or any other city insists on
paying its running expenses from the
ines Of the police courts and in order
hat those fines, etc. may amount 10
he goodly sum Of seven or eight thou
and dollars It licenses saloons and
gambling and houses Of III fame for the
manufacture Of criminals. it is putting
he burden Of the city on the persons :
hat are least able to bear it. It is too Z
much like taking the bread out Of the I
mouth Of hungry children and the cloth I
ne off their backs to pay salaried Off S
ers, some Of whom refuse to do their {
worn duty. G
Il know that those who desire to en- u
age in these things for revenue only I
ave much TO say about the amount
hey contribute toward the running ex-
enses Of the city. But that state :
1ent will bear an investigation. L