Rensselaer Union, Volume 1, Number 26, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 25 March 1869 — The Law of the Fathers. [ARTICLE]

The Law of the Fathers.

I The following law was passed by ] the Colonial Congress in 1778: “‘Whereas, Frequenting playhouses and theatrical entertainments lie.s a fatal tendency to divert the minds of the people from due attention to the means necessary for the dcfense of the country and the preservation of their liberties. “ 'Rksolvkji, That any person holding an efiice under the United States, who shall act, promote, encourage or attend such plays shall be deemed unworthy to hold such office, and shall be accordingly dismissed.’ _____ “How many of the present incumbents of offices under the Government of the United States would retain their places to-day were this wholesome liw to be enforced? And yet this law has a better foundation in reason aud morality than that of eleven years later date, which was unearthed in time to render Mr. Stewart ineligible to the office of Secretary of the Treasury. Those who stickled over the repeal of that law because the} - perceived in it the profound w isI dom of the fathers Tn guarding against temptation to do wrong, would do well to consider whether It would not be an equally wholesome public service to revive the law of 1778 and apply it to those who hold great ami responsible trusts under the Government.”-—* Cincinnati Commercial.