Perth Amboy evening news., 1923-01-22
METUCHEN RECTOR TELLS
OF DRY ACT REPEAL
CONTINUED from page II

tContinued from page II
diseases. Meanwhile we must wait
and pray and hope. The hour for
the triumph of right over might,
Justice over injustice, may strike
sooner than many OF US imagine"
In part. the sermon of the gov
errors pastor follows:
what is the matter with the
world? Is civilization on it's death
Ded Have we as a nation a pro-
gram, or are we going to sit down
and fiddle while Europe burns?
MIR. Hoover thinks the situation
overseas is improving. He finds
there less unemployment. a larger
output, more political stability. a
gradual clearing of the atmosphere.
SO far as economics and information.
al relationships are concerned. Mr.
Hoove has in his possession infor--
nation competent to make him a re-
llaole authority. He probably knows
europe better than any other Amer
lean. Mr.. Harvey thinks the situa-
ton worse than it was two years
ago. These statements at first sight
apSear irreconcilable, but we must
remember the value of a statement
depends largely on the viewpoint of
the author as it is applied to the
facts at his command. Mr.. Hoover
delves into office ledgers, studies
consular reports, interprets the stu
alton as it is shaped by labor and
capital. Mr.. Harvey undoubtedly
views it from the diplomatic side.
He takes us to the council chamber,
draws his differences from the wiles
and subterfuges of s~tatecraft. Out
wardly, economically, Europe MAJ
be recuperating, but as regards those
spiritual forces which make civiliza-
ton and goodwill possible, she is
still badly insolvent.
1.-THE physical rehabilitation OF
Europe is a comparatively simple
problem. The skyline will not al
ways be Redeemed by the torch. The
shell-torn, b~lood-soaked soil will
again become fertile. Her battered
towns and villages will rise again by
the mechanical process of adding
stone to stone Time will heal her
physical sears, but when is Europe
going to find her soul again, elimi-
nate, or at least keep under control
her racial animosities, adopt some
modus vivendi which will prevent
her from committing suicide?
What have we done or are we
doing to convert the fruits of victory
into some kind of an imperium thai
Will prevent nations from becoming
robbers, cut-throats and defaulters
We have repudiated the Treaty Of
Versailles and withdraw our influ,
ence from European peace councils
AT the same time, we have maintain,
ed for the past four years a standing
army at a storm center on the
Rhine. The order for its return can
not be carried out too speedily. Oul
self-respent demands it. We have
already faced too long. charges O.
Inconsistency and hypocrisy. W.
have not had a w~ide-enough vision
to get in o sufficient moral cour.
age to keep out. One leaders, bog,
is foreign entanglements, another's
a superstate, a third, ornaments. In
vitation, not initiative, is the wore
that has shaped olicies. Mean
| while, our Ship of State sails caln1l,
on without rudder. chart or destina
ton. Europe's extremity is increas
ingly thrust upon us and tn,
greater our opportunities TO
bringing about peace and prosperit.
there, the more criminal our cowar
dice and i1sularity.
Europe must be reformed befor
she a be reconstructed physically
She must cease piling up ornaments
father her honest debts, abandcl
her imperialistic policies and substi
tute for these the moral capital tina
will enable her to allay her presen
international jealousies and animosi
ties. The situation is primaril.
ethical not economic.
Inject into each participant a
the council-table the right spirit anc
trade indemnities, territorial al
justments ought to take care o
themselves. We have, too, our OWL
national problems. These while no
as gigantic and battling as those o
Europe, are causing thoughtful citi
zens grave concern. The enforce
ment of the Volstead act seems 10 bt
the storm center.
THE Volstead act is not ~necsSsar,
lily divine or even sacrosanct. Like
most legislation it has feet of clay
The same legislative body that en-
acted it can repeal it. Citizens have
the privilege of assembling peace
ably, organizing, airing their objcc
tons on the public platform ane
| through the mails, criticizing ti:'
act, doing everything except violat'
it. 1t grips everyone, from the hea(
of the White House to the latest IN
desirable who steps off an imaginar!
vessel with all his belongings in
feed bag. Some of our young PEG
pie are carrying around liquor ant
consuming it in public places. M
doubt they do this largely in a spiri
| of bravado, but it is a moral menace
and increases disrespect for all l*,w
Drunkenness is bad enough, but thu
heresy that law is simply the crea
ferences would subvert government
and bring in anarchy.
Zone of our fellow townsmen hal
taken up the duties of chief execu'
| tive of this commonwealth. His in
a~uguration is of more than passin.
interest to us, not only because he Ii
one of us. but because, as neighbor
friend and Judge, he has proved tina
he possesses the necessary qualifica'
! tons for the office. New Jersey i
not an easy state to govern. TIT
problems of two immense cities loN
over into its territory. while its rdc
ial diversities and conflicting inter
est would tax the resources of an.
administrator. 1t has been calle'
the intermediate state, but it bear
little resemblance to the quiet abod'
the church designates by that title
The governor steps into office, cog
infant of the intellectual and mora
demands that will be made upoi
him. He has stated his positions: Il
oNA Ia