New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1860-05-03
"a DISTINCT, SQUARE ISSUE"
by AN ANTLsABBATARIAN.
u d. ES,,o, Of The NJ " Tribune

y hs Editor Of TIE ~ " Tribune.
SIR: In an interesting article on Sunday Laws,
in your paper of April 25 you call loudly upon the
Anti Sabbaarans to lock the Sunday question square
in the face" and make distinct square issue there
on" and "try conclusions before the grand inquest OF
the people" instead Of calling the Sunday Law advo-
Gates hard names"
moot reasonable call, Mr.. Editor, and one which
l. as one Of them, will respond to. We have been
come hat denunciatory Of late, admit; but IL you
will look at the documents Of the "Sabbath Com
mtee and the "Religious Papers for the lasttwelye
or eighteen months, you will find that we have had a
bad example set u.s. in this matter, by our opponents
who have called us "rowdies" "inbdels, red
republicans" and all sorts Of hard names. Some Oh
us have been too ready to give TIT for tat out as
BODY, are anxious to have the question ted Oh i's
merits.
We truly believe that our present Sunday laws are
unconstitutional In months past, we have repeatedly
argued this point in the public prints, and more than
once have challenged the Sunday law men 10 meet ID
in di, passionate discussion. But instead OF accepting
our challenge and meeting arguments with oppos-
ing augmentation, thew have shOwered obloquy and
aIuae upon us; and in the last State Convention they
resolved that they would not cOndescend 10 argue the
Sabbath question with u.s.
Sneb beine the treatment we have received, what
more natural than that come impatient ones In our
ranls should call to mind the old saying, Sauce Tor
goose sauce for gander," and retort upon them IN
the same denuncistOry style. But all such oandyng OF
dsaRIeeable epthets il, we admit useless and worse
than ueeless. You have set good example in avoid
ing it. And now, word, II you please, with respect
TO the argument of your article. Have you stated the
ease fairly 1t seems TO me not.
You mention, as though II were the chief point az
Issue between u.s. the making Of Sunday Non dues IN
law and exempting from civil process military duty,
jury service, &C., Oh that day. But bow seldom do
YOU hear this made d matter Of complaint. nerer
have II the State desires to exempt is officers and
servants from duty on any day of the week. year,
il NAV do so, with few II any TO lind fault IL may
exempt the employs in incorporated institutions aP
prentces &C.. and though some will undoubtedly de-
nur the great majority will cheerfully acquesce Inc
immense majority are strongly IN favor OF making
Sunday "a day OF exemption from ordinary labor -
a day as Won say, on which the hard-worklng man
may enjoy fully the society Of his wife and children
But what 10 loudly complained OF all sides, IT, that
the statute law, in defiance Of the constitutional pro-
vision against such preference and interference,
aides with a somewhat large religious party IN de-
handing not only abstinence from " ordinary labor
but travel and recreaion and these OF course on re-
ligous groundP Sanitary grounds may be pleaded ior
the prohibition Of the st, hut certainly not the last.
On the contrary sanitary considerations would eHe0ur
age instead Of prohibiting the pleasurer1de into tue
country open air sports &c. The Puritan sects say
these things however hCalthfRl and desirable IN them
,eiyes considered muSt not DO done Sunday for re-
ngious reasons. The statute, framed under Puritan
influence enioTces this Dogma and so far IDENTIFIES IT.
self with "A reg party, in the way of support and
fayortfm which u, and Of right ought to be Prohb-
tied by the organic law, the Constitution.
We ask not {" freedom TO fling stones through he
" windows OF church." nor IN any way TO give
"ne.dless annoyance TO 81 worshping oongrega-
ton You have never heard, and never will hear
Anti Sabbaiarisns demanding such liberty. Bat the
liberty " hch we do emand, and that for which we will
never eease our efforts until Il is ob,aned is this: To
work on Sunday IL deem Il desirable at any honest
calling instead Of enJoying The common holiday as we
may on Than kgying Day, and or Independence; and,
4 We choose 10 unite with the majority in abstaining
from ordinary lator that day, 10 travel aud recea,e
Ourselves az please, nnd69 other or fdher re-
,tdctions than tGote imposed other days Of the
week. just here, Mr.. Editor, propose To take our
ttand and make the distinct, square Issue" you call
Tor. Resr ctfully, y. IL. HATCH
Bro0litn ApIH a., 1890.