Evening journal., 1907-10-09
Ccontinuad rrom TIrat pagel


those who are seeking desirable sites
for manufacturing plants.
Being in close proximity to the
great markets. with a soil and climate
that make it place where all the
products Of the farm are successfully
grown; where the peach. apple and
berry have their finest flavor and
beauty; where in fact are found in
greatest profusion most of the foods
that spring from the soil, Delaware
in the near future ought to become
not only a manufacturing state to
great extent but also largely the
source Of table supply for the larger
cities not far away.
Lose Respect ror Law.
i have said that our people are law
abiding in the main, but I know there
is feeling all to-prevalent to-day that
the people of the country generally
are losing their respect for. and con-
fidence In. the law. There is no greater
menace to our institutions in my opin-
ion than just such a feeling as this.
Such questions as these are some-
times asked; What is the good of
law anyway? Does Il accomplish
that which it was designed to accom-
plish? Is it losing its effect? Does
it receive. even from intelligent peo-
pie, decent and proper respect? Is
the spirit of defiance as great as the
spirit of obedience? Such questions
are at least pertinent and timely. and
should be interesting to every good
citizen.
There have been periods when the
law was impotent and ineffective;
have we reached such a period now?
There have been times when the
dangerous than the criminals OF the
lower class; is 1t so to-day?
But let us not confuse the law
with its enforcement The one. in its
principles. is essentially the same yes
terday. to-day and forever The other
varies as mans moral condition varies.
Laws made by man are of no avail
unless supported by the moral sense
Of the people. Legislatures may enact,
courts may administer and officers
may execute. but unless the public
mind and heart approve, the vital
force is lacking, the power for good
not there. Laws do not make men
honest. although the fear of the law
sometimes makes them seem to oe.
1t is the honesty Of the many, and
that alone. which makes it possible 70
enforce the law against the offending
few.
Bench and Bar Have Remedy.
~ know perfectly we'll that the lack
Of respect for the law is owing in some
Il - a.
The laws delay has been a subject of
ridicule and complaint for many, many
years, and the criticisms so often
heard are in the main reasonable and
Just. The cure, in a large measure,
rests with the bench and bar. They
have opportunity, influence and power
sufficient to correct the wrong, and for
the credit Of the profession, as we'll as
their own protection and the public
good, they should apply the remedy
soon.
IF there is in this country to-day
as many persons profess to believe, a
general disregard of the law and a
contempt for it's penalties. then IL is
certain that the morals of the people
are low and the public conscience dull
When the law is not enforced against
the high as well as the low, the fault
is not in the law, but in the public
sentiment which stands behind the law
Must Have Justice.
"And so say in order that the law
may be effective the body Of the peo-
/ pie must believe in and respect the
law, and the public mind must be as
sured that those who occupy the high
est positions are no more above the
law than the humblest citizen in the
street.
But wherein lies the hope of better
conditions. better things? I answer
not so much in higher education as in
| higher morality. Not so much in the
enlightenment of the mind as in the
awakening of The conscience. The
higher the education the greater tho
capacity for harm If the moral nature
is not developed too Can it be true
as sometimes charged. that in oui
larger institutions of learning very
much attention is paid to the former
and not so much to the latter?
But let me not be misunderstood
There can be nothing but praise foi
| the highest possible education and
training OF the mind. But let il not
be forgotten that there is one thins
more important than all the learning
obtained within college walls. and that
is a good character. Without 4
knowledge and education are in vain
Live In Fast Age.
1--WE are living in a wonderfully fast
and brilliant day. We hear a good
deal nowadays about the wickednes'
and corruption of the times. 1t 1:
indeed widespread and enormous, anC
can be neither disregarded nor ex
cused. And yet I do not believe tha
the world is growing worse or that oui
own country is exceptionally bad.
am still optimistic enough TO believ'
that the good in the world infinitely
exceeds the bad.
There are many persons who be
lieve that the present Is an exception
ally cold and selfish age. I have Offer
y thought that if such a change needed
any refutation, it was amply found il
the splendid conduct Of our people 0
) every class at the time of the grea
J disaster in San Francisco.
But while the present age is no
exceptionally selfish 1t is wonderful.
, rapid and busy age. Its dominan