Perth Amboy evening news., 1918-09-28

way of the future welfare of the city.
1t has been asked whether 1t Is
fair hat some other city allow its
theaters to open on Sunday and Perth
tAmboy not. OF curse in any ques-
ton of right and wrong the point or
fairness does not enter and we can
not see that the fact of its being done
bin other places has any bearing on
our own action, especially IL we be-
lieve in municipal home rule, besides,
there should be no hesitancy in de-
Gliding the question at all If there is
doubt as to it's being to the good adj
vantage of the city to have the thea
tiers open on Sunday. Perth Amboy is
the Pacemaking City. Can 1t be pos
sible that h would follow instead OF
lead in matters of moral health and
civic virtue?
We do not see how the patriotism
of the men behind the theaters can
enter into the discussion but since
tye, themselves, have mentioned it
THE subject of patriotism-we beg
that 1t be considered in its broader
aspects and application. The ques-
ton Of A~mericanizing America has
been before us for several years and
1t has suddenly become an intensely
necessary and vital question for us to
solve. We canno solve 1t by destroy
ing a single cornerstone in the fonn-
dalton of our structure of American
Liberty and ideals. The American
Sabbath has been and is one OF the
strongest supports OF this structure
and we cannot and must not, substi-
tute for it the so-called Continental
Sabbath-which would be nothing
more than q German Sabbath about
which we know too much as 1t is.
Haven't we had enough OF German
education and ideals2 Is there any
one who would publicly favor their
ideas of municipal virtue as against
our own7 We have the children to
consider in this. We already ave toe
many counter influences to the teach
ing we try to give them along these
lines. Do we want to d to this the
handicap of the materialistic and
Christless teaching of despotism7
1t is for us to consider what we
can do to foster an American idea
, OF patriotic citizenship in the chill
dren. Since our government rests or
the popular vote II is necessary tina
we educate the coming citizens in thu
morality which is the basis of oul
country's prosperity and happiness
The greatest tragedy, perhaps, in oui
history Is u failure to give thu
young SUFFICIENT moral education
pleasures, a failure due to our neu
trality in matters of religion and NOR
atty. Only thus can we be countes
on to support measures tending to
ward that morality. We cannot an,
must % substitute license for lib
, erty. Neither a we allow them Il
become synonymous terms. There
. great necessity for such teaching
People have been fiocking to on
shores from the four corners Of tn
earth and will continue to flock afte
: this war Is over. They may brinI
/. with them charms of education an
culture (spelled with a CO, but man.
> OF them bring also notions or socia
relations and of national government
which make them misunderstood tn
spirit OF u institutions, and as w
have said before. the American Sab
bath is n OF our greatest and mos
valuable institutions.
How are we 70 develop American
ideals OF citizenship from the con
ficting sentiments and ideals OF tn
many who come TO America becaus
II is AMERICA2 Will we accomplish
It alone through a salute to the dal
and an Occasional patriotic song, o.
shall We depend on the proverbia
melting pot and still do nothing q
help on the melting2 We do not be
llieve so. There is an abiding trans
formation wrought on the adul
through his children In the publ
scDOol ana We must oppose any ant
all influences that tend to break dow
our American institutions and GU
American morale, and so counterac
our teaching that the same civic life
blood which made us an AMERICAN
nation and preserved us an AMERI
CAN nation must continue TO fow
This question may we'll have muel
more than a local interest and otne
cities may be watching our handling
of II.
So far are we from believing tina.
opening these theaters permanent!
on Sunday can work anything bu
harm to our children. that we woull
see steps taken to curtail the ~activitie
of other agencies already al work q
Undermine the civic health OF our fai
and prosperous I~ace-making city.
Yours truly,
J. +. WALKER.