The Savannah morning news. (Savannah, Ga.) 1900-current, 1903-12-28
BLOOD ON HANDS
az ALL WHO EVEN INDIRECTLY
SUPPORT GAMBLING.
POLICE, PULPIT, AND PRESS
MIST SHARE THE GUILT, SAYS
REV. MIR. WILLIAMS.

Public Sentiment, in So Far as 1t
Justified the Permitting of Gam
bling, Is Equally Guilty-COurage
and Tenderness Two Traits of
Character i'm James DOss That
showed Possibilities of Usefur
Lifetime Has Come for the City
to Repent-The FaIIacy of the
open Town Policy Shown by the
Trend of Events and the Number
of HOmicides-s'We Must Repent or
PERISH Said the Pastor.
From the subject, Lessons of a Sad
Week" Rev. A. M. Williams addressed
one of the largest congregations last
night that has ever assembled in Trim
ity Church: The sermon dealt with the
death of Judge Barrow, the Doss' club
shooting affray, and the question of an
open town. The text was taken from
Luke 1875, Except We repent, We shall
all likewise perish" Among other
things, Rev. Mr. Williams said:
Last week was truly sad to the
thoughtful. We were solemnly remind
ed of the fact, In the midst of life we
are in death. One week ago 1 dis
cussed in the pulpit one of the great
evils in our city. In it 1 commended
and supported the sentence of the Su-
perior Court. The jurist who pro-
nounced that sentence, loved and hon
ored by many, has been suddenly gath
cred to his fathers, ceasing at once to
work and live. All the decisions of his
busy life will now be reviewed by that
Supreme Court which knows no error,
but is enthroned in love. His sudden
death reminds US ALL prepare to meet
thy God.
"A fearful tragedy, the direct result
of the great evil discussed, also oc-
Cured within little over a day from
the closing of my sermon. AS a result
two men have died. This tragedy has
elements in it of such nature as de-
mands the careful consideration of the
entire community. 1t is a community
affair. 1t reflects on our civic life. 1t
is an offense against our civic right
eousnesS.
1.-The first inquiry we should make
into it is as to the responsibility for
such occurrences in our midst-who de-
serves condemnation on account of this
great shock? We need not shift the
blame from those directly implicated
in the affair. Every man has will,
and God holds him responsible for his
use of that will. When a man chooses
the wrong way the everlasting law of
cause and effect will exert itself.
1T is an awful thing to stand on the
brink of eternity with two souls, sud-
denly cut down in their sins. With
the sadness of such an experience
would lift a word of warning now to
the young. In the one 1 talked WITH
two traits impressed me: Courage and
tenderness. With these traits set in
proper surrounding, directed in the
right course his life might have proved
a blessing. Young men, pause, turn
live right!
omciaIs Are Responsible.
Next to the direct participants the
officials charged with the administra-
ton of our laws are most responsible
for this tragedy. Upon them the blood
of those men rests, on them the dis
grace of our city must be placed.
1--WE need never expect all crime to
be exterminated. The communitys
responsibility consists in having good
laws, faithfully administered. When
such is the case the sole responsibility
of violation rests on the offender. In
Georgia we have good laws. In Sa-
vannah the laws against gambling
have not been administered. AS a
result crime runs riot Every official
from the highest to the lowest, who
has failed to keep his oath, must share
the condemnation of this awful crime.
at is custom to excuse the de-
linquency of the sworn rulers of the
city under plea of public sentiment.
So far, then, as public sentiment has
expressed itself in justification of the
negligence of the authorities, the blood
of these men is upon it. Any person
who has stood against strict inforce-
ment of the laws against gambling,
xr-H0 10 hoe hot
ion in private conversation, in public
act, in the exercise of his franchise,
or in any of the ways in which public
sentiment exerts itself, bears the stamp
of this disgrace upon him.
Here a caveat should be entered
against the dogma that public Of
ficers are to be controlled in the dis
charge of their duties by public senti-
ment. Let them consider their oaths
of office. There is nothing said about
public sentiment in that oath. They
swear to faithfully execute the law,
not the passing whim of irresponsible
people
THE very object of law is destroy
ed by that dogma. A law is the de-
liberate conclusion of the community.
1t is the expression of it's reason. Its
very excuse for existence is to with
stand the passion of the crowd The
f1ckleness of public opinion Is as old
as CHRIST. IhOSe VINO on sunday
would crown him Lord of all, on Fri
day cried away with him, to the cross
with him. 1t is the Office of law to
lift the people up. This dicta is pull
the law down.
Pulpit Not Altogether Guiltless.
"Those whose office requires them
TO promote public sentiment, but who
have neglected the duty, must next
be condemned. The pulpit and the
press is not altogether guiltless of the
blood of these men.
THE delicacy of my position re-
strains me from criticism. 1 am will
ing to Mslare this blame. With bowed
head and a crushed spirit l lament
that 1 have not been more faithful,
more earnest, more wise, more spirit
ual. more prayerful in advocacy Of the
right, in my denunciation Of the
wrong.
with this consideration of the re-
sponsibility for these evils we turn to
point out our present duty. The duty
of this hour is repentance. Repent
ance means a change of point of view,
change in purpose, change in action.
"The great need of Savannah is con-
viction on the subject of enforcing
law. Indignation is creditable, It
shows that we are not altogether dead.
Indignation however, is emotional and
likely TO prove transient. Conviction
is the result of reason and conscience.
Conviction faVors the full execution OF
law because IL Is right. Conviction
does not stop to ask: Is II POPULAR
H,n.,fotto,, p,,eheq aefde the mean