The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1866-04-03

been even more successful in their late efforts
to prevent a legalized desecration of the day,
than it was at one time supposed they would
be. The Legislature, by very decided vote,
refused to pass the bill authorizing our city
passenger railway cars to be run on Sunday,
notwithstanding the earnest exertions that
were used to carry the bill. But the triumph
of Lhe good cause was made still more COM
plete last Friday, by an almost unanimous
vote in the State Senate against the proposi-
ton to submit the whole question Of Sunday
travel in Philadelphia to the suffrage of the
people of this community at the next October
election.
This result, taken altogether and in view of
the powerful efforts and influences employed
in contrary direction, must be not only in
expressibly gratifying to all discreet and vir-
tuous citizens here, but is also eminently
credtable to the Legislature. There can be
no reasonable doubt that if the law of this
Commonwealth had been altered in the par
ticular named, the ultimate effect would have
proved greatly injurious in more ways than
one. Besides the probability that the suburbs
of the city would have been crowded every
Sunday with idle people, bent on pleasure,
and likely, in its pursuit. to become noisy,
needless, and riotous, to the serious disturb
ance OF the public peace and the public
morals, this community would have incurred
the additional danger of further and almost
unlimited innovations on the present Sabbath
law of the State, until, at last, there would be
very little of the sanctity or divine authority
Of the day left.
1t is complained, however, by those who
favored the Sunday car project, that the peo-
pie of this city, who alone were asking for
the privilege, and who alone were to be
affected by il, should have been allowed to
settle and determine the matter for them
selves by popular election. But it is not
true, as alleged, that Philadelphia only is con-
cerned in the legislation that is desired by
those who have advocated Sunday travel on
our streets. The people of the entire Com
monwealth are interested, in no small degree,
in having the sacredness Of the Lords day
preserved here, as we'll as in all other parts of
the State; and this is no doubt the view which
the members of the Legislature from the
rural sections took of the subject. 1t would
be dangerous precedent to allow one city or
county to abolish the Sabbath altogether, or
greatly modify its character as an institution
of God, on the silly pretense that such action
would not reach, in its influence or conse-
quences, beyond certain local limits. The
same privilege that is granted to one munich
palty or district in the State to-day, upon
the plea above recited, might be asked from
the Legislature tomorrow by a dozen
or more other towns and counties and the
obvious result would be, the gradual accom-
plishment by local election of that which the
entire people of the Commonwealth would pro-
badly not sanction if made dependent on their
Joint sufrages at a general election. In other
! words, we might see the Sabbath, the Bible,
and all religious ordinances and observances,
successively voted away by town after town,
and district after district, until Pennsylvania
would, in the end, be made a land OF infldelity
and heathenism, unregulated in her civil
polity by the obligations of Christian moral
ity. and reduced to all the fearful disorders,
RIGHTEOUSNESS, and crimes which distinguished
France during that revolution in which her
affairs were entirely controlled by regicides
and atheists. In this connection we may re-
call, opportunely and with profit, the follow
ing advice of President WASHINGTON IN his
eFarewell Address" He says:-"Of all the
dispositions and habits which lead to political
prosperity, religion and morality are indis-
pensable supports. In vain would that man
claim the tribute of patriotism who should
labor to subvert these great pillars Of
human happiness-these firmest props of the
duties of men and citizens The mere poll
tician, equally with the pious man, ought to
respect and cherish them. A volume could
not trace all their connection with private
and public felicity. Let it be simply asked,
where is the security for property, for reputa-
tion for life, if the sense of religious obliga-
ton desert the oaths which are the instru-
ments of investigation in the courts of justice
And let us with caution indulge the supposi-
ton that morality can be maintained ooithout
relation Whatever may be conceded to the
influence of refined education on minds of
peculiar structure, reason and experience both
forbid us to expect that national morality
can prevail in exclusion of religious princi-
PIES"
Surely, words so full of wisdom, uttered by
so pure statesman and patriot, are an ample
justification of the legislative vote which has
just saved the Christian Sabbath in Pennsyl-
vania. .