Middlebury register. (Middlebury, Vt.) 1886-1937, 1902-09-12

enforcement. And that sounds very ra-
tiona. Yet what we mean by that, too
often is that people of responsibility
should not be antagonized even if they do
break the law; that the detective methods
which a sound morality always justifies
when used against low criminals, should
not be used to bring to justice offenders
of high social rank or political Influence,
But, friends, that is a most dangerous SEN
timent to harbor. There is only one just
ifiable exception to obedience to law, and
its impartial enforcement, and that is the
right of revolution and the end of gov
eminent.
There is only one motive, one principle,
that can help us rise above all this per
sonal antagonism, when law hurts us
and that is the supreme law of unsel1ish-
ish benoVolenCe-Thou shalt love Thy
neighbour as thysef.-When man gets
where he can say, now. whatever l myself
should prefer the community interest-in-
volving this multitude of my neighbors
my fellowmen-is greater far than my indi-
vidual interest; and though they clash Tor
a time, the two are wrapped up insepara-
bly, together-then all this petty indivi-
dualism, which is cursng society So Cor
him Will rejoice away. AS honest citizens,
we rejoice-we must rejoice that men who
are able to judge, are saying of this anti
saloon law We have travelled over
Vermont for years, and we have never be-
fore seen the State as free from the sale
and use of intoxicating liquors." and that
some of our newspapers have been able to
say: with this impartial enforcement of
the law, ana all the laws, fairly and fully,
the people of Vermont every week" Even
its most active enemies, whose complaint
has often been: This law is such that it
cannot be enforced" have changed their
minds and are saying now: The law is
being enforced too well; it must be for
some selfish purpose!
tl,t l.. ,1tk
bestir ourselves For the sake of our
State, for the sake of our God-given work
as Christian citizens, we must range the
cities of our State, no less than the coun-
try folk, Overwhelmingly on the side of the
church and the home against the saloon.
An enforced law is one of the chief means
to this great end. For this, and for the
yet greater worth of community righteous
ness, in all the breadth of its ramiiica-
tions, l call upon you men to use your in
fiuence, and by voice and by work and by
vote. to see TO it that no man shall hold
office, or have any chance of holding Of
flee who has not learned with the Presi-
dent of our country. that there are no eX
captions in his oath of office to enforce
the law, it is growing in the respect of.
The President is setting a splendid example
in this thing to our governors and mayors,
and to all of us the people 1t ought to
grip our consciences, till we shall rise as
one man and say: If a police officer is
not himself abiding, or does not en-
force the laws impartially and vigorously
and without regard to political effect, then
he shall not be police officer. If a man
would hold the office Of sheriff or. prose-
cutting attorney, or judge or governor. his
past record must prove him worthy of
judge or governor. We. the people. are
the rulers. And no man shall be sent to
represent us as State senator or represen-
tative who is not squarely committed to
the interest of Righteousness and deconcy
and the public welfare. We want men, not
simply passable as the average among
politicians goes, but men who. politically
as well as personally, are above suspicion.
And this may God give us the will and the
power to work for. at all cost.