The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1859-11-27
The Mayoralty Ca Ddfdates and the Sum
day Question-Wherc are the Friends
OF Liberal Legtslations

The MayOraty Candidates and the Sum.
day Qu~stion-Where arc the Friends
or Liberal Legislations
The candidates for the Mayoralty are now
all in the field, and the canvass has ac-
lively begun. But little more than week
remains to work the courage Of the people up
to the sticking point Of going to the polls and
voting for some one of the nominees; and yet
gard to Sunday have made no movement to
bring ont an expression Of opinion on that sub
ject from the many would-be Mayors.
We are led to believe that all of the candi-
dates are pious men, punctual in their religious
duty that each Of them owns a pew in some
cburch-Mr. Wood we are told has two pews-
and that all of them entertain the liberal view
Of permitting every man to worship his Maker
after the dictates of his own conscience. Yet
it would be grateful thing to the working
masses Of this great city to know of a certainty
that the man for whom they cast their votes
will not be guided by set Of puritanical
parsons in his efforts regarding future legis-
lation for the city, and bis Interpretation
of existing laws. Therefore the parties
who have taken upon themselves the
leadership in opposing our present unjust and
partial Sunday legislation, should at once ad-
dress letter to each Of the candidates, calling
upon him to define his position in the premises.
Under our present system the law leaves every
source Of enjoyment on Sunday open to the
rich man, but sedulously closes them all to the
poor one who labors for his sustenance during
six days of the week. On the seventh day, the
man who has his wines, his plate and his car
rage, can crafty without stint the palate at
home, and the senses with a view of the charms
| of nature and breath Of pure air in the coun-
try But the mechanic and the laborer, who
has neither wines, plate nor carriage Of his
own, who all the working days Of the week is
| confined to the stived air Of the workshop, or
the close atmosphere Of bis humble dwelling,
and who longs to make the Sunday relief for
| himself, and day Of innocent and healthy re-
creation for his wife and children, is deprived
of the means Of resorting by a public convey
ance to some pleasant spot out of the city by a
harsh law which weighs on him alone, while
the rich are not bound by its meshes. The law
does not make man more moral or more re-
ligious: rather does it have contrary effect,
by forcing him, through the very necessities of
his nature to connive with those who. in de-
fiance of the law afford him in part the means
of gratifying those tastes which he possesses in
common with the rich.
No man Of any observation Of what is pass
ing in our midst will claim that our present
Sunday prohibitory system restrains any but
the most innocent and healthy class Of Sunday
recreations All those which are vile, all
which are worthy Of Reproduction, either defy
the law or find means to evade it. IT, as is the
case in all other Christian communities, the
people had the means opened to them, after
the hours Of morning service, of visiting muse
ums. public libraries, depositaries Of the works
ofscience, art and mechanical skill Of listen
ing to lectures on popular subjects, ofshort ex.
cursions into the country, where, besides the
benefits flowing from relaxation and fresh air
they could learn to distinguish tree from q
turnip top, how many germs Of good that now
lie latent would be fostered and stimulated
and how much evil that is now developed in
the dark places Of the city would be prevented
What New York requires is that the Sunday
recreations and occupations of its laborine
classes should be carried on in the open lgh
} of day, and not in the hidden recesses Of vice
J that the whole community should see, and the
public reproval or appreciation should control
:, in some measure the habits of those to whom
d Sunday is not day for carrying on in
lie cushioned pews the hypocritical farce Of cheat
n ing your Deiehbor.
n Letthe advocates OF liberal Sabbatariar
o Legislation bring out the opinions of the candi
v dates who are now seeking the popular sui
o frages for the Mayoraity. Some Of them may
u evade the issue; but even an evasion on thei,
; part will show the esteem in which they hold
the importance Of the question, for il will
prove that they fear to oppose it.
!. POPULATION AND TAxA1foS.---In 1850, lust to,
i years ago, the population Of this city was 5l5
547, and the aggregate Of taxation was abou
@ FIVE mifiions The populatiou in 1860 will h