The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1866-01-26
THE SUNDAY QUESTION.
The Freedom of Conductors and Drivers
indicated.

Vfndicated.
To TIE EDITOR OF The EVENING TELEGRAPH
ir:-Ne may he told that the seventeen .hour-a-
day laborers willing thus to work. yea, they
WILLING to do the anne Sunday! Now, double
meaning in words is great occasion for deception
and falacy. There is sense in which this is true.
The proverb, 'root, pig, or die " leaves grumphy
choice OF evils-work death: and his pigship
chooses to root the lesst OF two evlls-he ia a
voluntary rooter. Now affirm that this IS the only
sense in which free-born Ap,erican ls, or can be
mace, Wiling 10 work seventeen hours per Day, for
seven days III the week. No man, that has a soul in
hIm, can bring that SOU up to the humiliation of
such voluntary bondage. dire necessity must first
be LAID upon him. The men who have him in their
trap, in great condescenson and love say TO him:-
"Dnke, we are gong to rdn onr cars on Sunday, and
our men and horses must buckle TO and drive ahead.
How do you like it, Mixer" "Well, sir, think
seventeen hours q day for six davs of the week is
about tight enouoh poor fellow. Ye see,
sir, I've time to sit and nurse Pussy on
my knee and amuse myself looking at Jenny
and Sue PLAYING with the little dog about
the hearth. Sir, I think I'd like to have Sun
day Gear. It's the only time enjoy the home of
my wife and children That's true, Mike; but We'll
of cOur:e inc ease your wages little well sir, the
Lord knows we poor drivers and conductors have
hard work 10 get along on our present wage every
know half Loaf is better than bread" "That's
true too, MI. Railroad President! but then, whole
loaf aud little beef and po'a'ooa is better still"
"Well, turn in, Mile, and work seventeen hours
Sunday and the increase of your wages will buy the
potatoes at any rate" "Ah but Mr.. PIesdent--then
I'll have to leave poor little Pussy, and Jenny, and
Sue. and their dear mother all days and Ill become
a stranger in ny own house; my little dar,ings will
soon not know their daddy Please excuse me then
from the Sunday" "Well, Mike, you've been faith
full driver, and thought would make you far
offer, full employment, and living wages Now
want you fairly to understand your position
You see the cars must run of a Sunday, and
we must have drivers-it's absolutely necessary;
and you know necessity has no law. SO, Mike,
if you won't another will. and we will have to
part. If you won't work for us on Sunday,
you n rshan't work for us on week days. So
good-by, Mikep "Oh! Mr.. President stop little.
There is another difficulty in my way that maybe
you will think about 1t. Mary and were brought
up in praying, and Sabbath keeping, aud church
going families. We both think it is wrong to work
on Sunday. My father and grandfather, as far
back as l can get any knowledge of them, were Sab
bath keepers, and always he'd the Ten Command.
menls to be summary of the moral law, and binding
upon the conscences of all men l and my dear
wife may be mistaken but so it is cOascientoasiy
believe il is wrong.
f WrWe must not work, we must not play,
Because II is the Sabbath day..
This we teach our children, and still think 1t is
right. Now, Mr.. President, must we be cut off from
our employ ment aud our bread, and turned off the
cars all the week, just because we want to worship
the God of fathers according to the dictates oil
our own consciences as the Constitution Ofthe State,
and the laws of the land, and of God say Oughtp
Does 1t not seem hard? L am willing to drive till
twelve oc ock on Saturday night and to start at four
on Monday morning; but, sir, If 1 must pol,ute
NV conscience by disobeying Gods law, the law Of
nv native Pennsylvania, aud the law of my church
or leave your company's employment, why, then
my choice is to keep good conscience ana trust to
| God lor bread"
"WelI Mike, it is hard. 1 do pity you. But, you
| know, corporations have no souls, and can't help
it. am bur an agent for Others, aud must submit
| TO my masters. SO, good-by poor Mike" 'Just
minute more Mr.. Railroad President, il you please.
| If corporations have no souls, can they go to
Heaven or to the other placer Andi just God SEXES
upon the corporation and administers justice ac'
cordinR to truth for this Grevous sin OF persecung
all conscientious Sabbath keepers out from their
employment how will the individuals who compose
the corporation fare at the righteous BARI Can
the whole le put under arrest and yet all the parts
| OF that whole escape2 Ohl sir, bear in mind that
| individual responsibility can never be merged IN
social responsibility. II your corporation pushes on
| all men who love God and His holy day, ana thus
persecute us in violation OF law can the individuals
| who compose 1t wash their hands of It, ana say,
| am clean-this sin none Of mlnef why sir
| Gods laws protects your horses, and II you run
| them seven days In the week, you will klll them as
| you are killing us. Farewell. God bless the Sab
bath.breakers with better mind" THEoPHILus'
Nd fhn