Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1904-04-04
QUEER CHRISTIANITY.

The municipality of Dubuque has
long been thing apart from Iowa. 1t
has been law unto itself Its elec-
tons have until of late been quiet re-
Affirmations of its position In the mulct
law and matters have gone along cas-
lily and quietly. None has been able
to get o precise line on Dubuque's snor-
a sentiment. This year there is trouble
and the outside world is getting a
glimpse into the Lhasa OF the state of
Dubuque" the hermit municipality OF
Iowa. This glimpse Is interesting. An
editorial in the Telegraph Herald
starts out like this:
Tomorrow night we shall know
whether the people of Dubuque desire
q wide open town. or an end to the
shameful partnership with crime enter
ed into by the Berg administration. 1t
is important that every man who has
q vote shall register it in accord with
the dictates of his conscience, because
now, for the first time in several years.
the issue is clean cut. It is decency
against indecency; morality against
immortality; right against wrong;
Christian practices against UNI Christ
dan indnlgcnces. Today in every viii
lage where the Christ spirit has pen
etrated; in every town and hamlet and
in every country, praises of the Son of
God are being sung by grateful peo-
pie. There is Joy in His resurrection,
glory in the Eastertide. It is well that
on tomorrow we remember the lesson
taught mankind in the sufferings and
bloody death OF the Redeemer. 1t is
important that we estimate accurately
the value Of His life, which lies in the
example it set the world. He came to
show the light, to teach men the way of
right, to save the world from sin and to
make 1t possible for you and yours to be
saved. He suffered and died for man
kind"
Three paragraphs along In the edi-
torial referred to the TIL. refers to q
report as current In many parts OF the
city that If Mr.. Sheridan shall be elect
ed mayor he will order the closing of
saloons all Of Sundays and enforce the
mulct law. The TIL. assures its
Christian hearers:
There reports are utterly without
any foundation in fact. As the demo-
cratic nominee himself explains, he
knows the customs of the people and
appreciates the infringement 1t would
work on the personal liberty and per-
sonal comfort of large element OF our
citizenship, to require all-Sunday clos
ing. Yet he is persuaded, as are most
of our citizens that some Difference is
due the Sabbath, some consideration
due the other large element Of our cit
izenship which favors closed Sunday.
Therefore he proposes that the saloons
shall be closed on Sunday until D. M,
and at II o'clock at night. He may be
) trusted to be as good as his word.
There is no reason why Mr.. Sheridan
should not receive the support of those
citizens whose comfort Is insured with
a glass Of beer on Sunday afternoon.
Their liberty OF action will not be in
frirxed their customs ignored or their
pleasures marred. To do so would be
to work unnecessary hardship upon
them. The advocates of Sunday after
noon saloon opening have the guarantee
of Mr.. Sheridan as rmayorso Dubuque
he will defend their wishes and respect
them"
Then the TIL. appeals to the young
men to consider whether they want
to turn their backs on their home train-
ing on the teachings Of Christianity as
learned from their mothers and in the
se16tches and the Sunday schools"
Truly customs differ and morals are
much dependent upon environment.
Gilbert Hubbard perhaps had Dubuque