The evening star and Newark advertiser. [volume] (Newark, N.J.) 1907-1908, 1907-10-21
VANCE
DISCUSSES
HOME RULE
tcontInuee from FIr.t pase..

This statement is addressed TO a class
of people who posed as the special guard
ians of lfew and order. They regarded
themselves as the reformers of society and
| the preservers of civilization. They claim
ed to be profoundly interested In maintain
ing the majesty and honor Of the lay. The
one thing about which they Dragged was
law enforcement.
Paul charges them with breaking the
very laws they championed. He ridiculed
their assumption of the moral oversight of
the community. He tells them that their
morality was movable, a matter of theory
and not of practise. They were academic
moralists. Thou that makest thy boast of
the law. through breaking the law dlshon-
crest thou God?
This statement is applicable TO a phase
of current politics. 1t has baptized itself
with the beautiful name Of home rule. 1t
Is advocated by a class OF people who talk
much of law enforcement.
''rhey see the Sabbath desecrated by the
saloon, open in violation of law. The
traffic is too lucrative and the thirst OF the
community too great for Sunday closing.
This is the excise question, the difficult
excise question.
.aThe politicians 5ell us it is most diff
cult. They quicker their brows and rack
their brains and sit up at night trying TO
solve II. 1t calls for all the mentality they
prostration. At last they have found the
remedy. They call 1t home rule. Home
rule is the solution Of the difficult excise
question.
at is the serious proposal TO give muni-
eipalities fAe right to legalize for a part
of Sunday the traffic now forbidden by law
1t is a proposition to maintain the integ-
rity Of law by breaking the law squarely
in twain and throwing half OF it away.
Crime is to be cured by 1egalizlng it by
abolishing the law against IT, by making
legal that which is now penal.
And this is seriously suggested as a
statesmanlike solution of the difficult ex-
else question:
God save the mark! 1t is a joke. n
cnIat,r, 60 RIM Tho mountain has laHnrpd
and brought forth a mouse. They want us
to take the mouse seriously, to treat Il us
a lion. But there is nothing of a lion about
il. 1t is not heroic.
breaking law is no cure for law-break-
ing. AFFECT surrender is not solution ]
would call the attention of the gentlemen
who have become namored of home rule
'4rhese ancient Romans dishonored the law
of which they boosted by their private
practise. The dishonor OF such private
practise the modern home rule advocate
proposes to make respectable by legal en-
actment.
fe'e a isS meth lo; ii Of IS re eG0eRlsrifH he su ee9ils ono no
nected with the sale and use of intoXi-
eating dring. Evidently these evils are TO
be be I6tnx;el by DECREASING gbs sing the d sale and # use is
certainly not by increasing it.. And yet
that is the bland proposal of home rule.
The addition by law of one-half OF sunday
- NV iAhN ~ N.biNA = -
saloon to do pushes is not likely to re-
duce either the sale or use of liquors.
so you may eliminate home rule as a
measure. Whatever else 1t may
be, it certainly is not that. The way to
check a runaway locomotive is not to turn
on more steam. The home-rule Issue is. a
Sunday observancc issue pure and simple
."rhe question up is as to the repeal by
a State Legislature of the laws of God: rs
to the advlsability of open Sunday for half
the day, In order that men may get WHAT
they want 10 drink,
''The proposal is not in the interest of
industry or trade or wit or education or
is in the interest of a traffic which does
much to destroy civilization. Shall we try
to promote civilization by giving larger
privileges to the things which destroy itf
'It is amazing that good men who are
long-headed in practical affairs should be
SO shortsighted when they try their hand
position that ! can conceive Of is that
they regard the Sunday question as of
minor Importance, as having no morals.
and the permanent preservation of the day
with such a position I. for one, am
eyeflastingly at war. / regard it as Tar
more important to preserve the Christian
ditlonal business facilities.
TT is claimed that home rule will fX
things, right In various respects, 1t VIII
noys each Sabbath across the river and
pours itself into the tills of New York's
thirst parlors. Home rule Will keep tbs
money at home.
'"TruIy this is a lofty pinnacle from
which TO study a moral question. Whether
Newark has lost money by the enforcement
of the Bishops law l know not.
at is stated that the Monday deposits ~
savings banks have decidedly Increased
since the law went into effect. Some
money seems to stay. But have we gottef
morality by money? Have we become
venal? There is something far more I'M
portant for rs to keep than our money.
1t is our manhood.
Home rule Is urged on the ground OF
oxpodiency. They say Give us the open
saloon for half OF Sunday and the closing
law for the other half can be enforced
II is too much to pay for a dream, espe-
cially for a dream that is not likely to
come true A police force that eithfr "an-
not or will not enforce the closing law.
for the whole day Is Il police force that
either cannot or will not enforce it for half
iae day.
Besides, are we to repeal a law simply
because 1t is hard to enforce? Are we to
let criminals have their way simply be-
cause they are saucy2 Is 4 community in
which stealing is common to abolish steal
ing by aholishinS the law against stealing.
This procedure IN the case OF the sa-
Icons is called 'expedieney. It is not eN-
pediency. I It is cowardice. The Sunday
closing law can be enforced. tt is enforced
n some cities. The way TO enforce it is to
enforce it and quit whining.
furthermore, nome rule Is cIalmeu TO
be democratic. It Is democratic to let the
people settle the question. IfSa majority
OF the people of Newark want Sunday
opening they have a right to ave 1t. There
never was a create lie.
Democracy Is not a divine institution.
There Is not a syllable In any moral code
under heaven to support the theory that
majorities make mornlities.
Moral distinctions are not settled nv
counting noses. 1t is one thing to say that
a municipality shall have home rule as to
water, lights, transportation, police adj
ministration.
IAN this is fair and proper and entirely
American. But to say that a city shall
have home rule on the great essential mat
ter Of morals on which God has spoken in
unmistakable terms is both unamerfcan
and unchristian. Z
Morally Is based on the character Of
God. 1t is right because it is right, not
because 1t pays, pleases, Is popular or ex-
pedient. Morality is not n thing TO be
hedged in by municipalities and geographic
cal barriers. 1t is atmospheric.
TO say that the morals of Jersey City
do not affect Newark because they are
different municipalities is nonsense. AS
well try to tether down the foul odor7 of
a swamp as to limit the vicious effects of
immoral legislation to the community CIV
ing 1t a majority at the polls.
The law for the Sabblth is one of the
ten great moralities of the race. BY those
who believe in the Bible 1t is regarded as
OF divine origin.
Last Sunday thousands OF men marched
through this city in the Holy Name parade
testifying their reverence for the third
which says Remember the Sabbath day
| To kNep II holVs bnc tho gan1N. sanction and