The Kenosha telegraph. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1860-1888, 1867-08-08


John Stuart Mill on the Sunday Question.
In view of the recent discussion of the
Sunday question, the subjoined extract from
JOHN STUART MILLS treatise on Liberty
may be of interest to some who have never
read that able work Mr.. Mill is almost
universally conceded to be one of the clear
est thinkers, and most upright, fearless and
conscientious men of the age. A friend and
champion of the United States in England
when friendship there is both rare and
precious, he will always be loved and rever
ed by patriotic Americans. The extract
which we give, where it speaks of Sabbath
rian legislation as having been carried into
effect, of course refers to the acts of the
British Parliament:
another important example of illegiti-
mate interference with the rightful liberty
of the Individual, not simply threatened, but
long since carried into triumphant effect, is
Sabbatarian Legislation. Without doubt,
abstinence on one day in the week, so far as
the exigencies of life permit, from the usual
daily occupation, though in no respect relig-
iously binding on any except Jews, is a
highly beneficial custom. Aud inasInuch
as this custom cannot be observed without
general consent to that effect among the
Industrious classes, therefore, In go far as
some persons by working may impose the
same necessity on Others it may be allowa.
bic and right that the law should guaran-
tee to each, the observance by others of the
custom OF by suspending the greater opera
tons OF industry on particular day But
this justification grounded on the direct in
terest which others have in each individu-
al's observance of the practice, does not ap-
ply to the selfchosen occupations in which
person may think fit to employ his lei
sure; nor does it hold good, i'll the smallest
degree, for legal restrictions on aumuse-
ments. 1t is true that the amusement OF
some is the days work of others; but the
pleasure not to say the youthful recreation,
of many, is worth the labor of few provi-
ded the occupation is freely resigned. The
operatives are perfectly right in thinking
thatif all worked on Sunday, seven days
work would have to be given for six days
wages so long as the great mass of EN-
Payments are suspended the small number
who for the enjoyment of others must still
work, to obtain proportional increase in
earnings; and they are not obliged to fcl-
low those occupations if they prefer leisure
to emoument. If further remedy is
sought it might be found in the establish
ment by custom Of a holiday on some other
day Of the week for those particular classes
of persons. The only ground, therefore, on
which restrictions on Sunday amusements
can be defended, must be that they are re-
ligiously wrong naotioe Of legislation aUhich
qoe0er can be too earnestly protested against.
'Deorum injurie Dis curie.' 1t remains to
be proved that society or any of its officers
hold commission from on high to avenge
any supposed offence to omnipotence, which
is not also wrong to our fellow creatures.
The notion that ii is one mans duty that another
should be religious 1oaS the foundation Of all the
religious prosecutions ever perpetrGted and ifdd-
n9ttted, acoutd fully justify them. Though the
feeling which breaks out in the repeated at
tempts to stop railway travelling on Sunday,
III the resistance to the opening of Museums,
and the like, has not the cruelty of the old
prosecutors, the state of mind Indicated by
it is fundamentally the same 1t is de-
termination not to tolerate others in doing
what is permitted in their religion, because
it is not permitted by the Prosecutors relig-
ion 1t is a belief that God not only abom-
mates the acts Of the misbeliever, but will
not hold us guiltless if we leave him unmo
lested"