The Hawaiian gazette. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1865-1918, 1868-12-16

= Publieola,- and hope that, at all times,
any who may have thoughts to eommuni-
cate to the public. VIII understand that it
Is o0e Of the purposes for which this pa
/ per Is established. TO 0btai "a expression
Of opinion from al who a.e DESTROYS Of
expressing their views upon any Subject.
in proper manner; nor does ii make any
difference, in this respect, whether their
views happen to correspond with those sd-
vOoaied by this paper. Upon the sub
jet Of Sunday laws. the Hawaiian Gov
erumsnt. in its legislative, executive. and
Judicial functions. has hitherto been unva-
ring in It's views.
\ sumptuaTy law is one made to re-
strain the expenses Of citizens in their
food. clothing. or furniture. and, as our
correspondent says. IS difficult Of execu-
ton These laws soon become odious to
all. because they interfere with the liberty
OF all-sabjeeting every one to espionage
70 see whether the laws are enforced, and
predicting jsaloGsies between neighbors,
because the poor are active and waiehlll
10 see that the rich Do not avoid them ;
and thus the observation on priyste life
becomes unIversal-or the law sOou be-
comes dead letter. Our Sunday Law is.
therefore. in no sense a sumptaary enact
uent. 1t does not attempt TO limit the
expenses Of any one The enactment Is
Tot in restraint Of human freedom, bat,
on the contrary, in the interest Of il
Though j, prohibits all worldly business
and amusement 90 Suaday, it Is never
construed TO interfere With those quiet oc-
equations, which pertain to the individual
alone, or his immediate family. Nor is it
construed, in its enforcement, so as to ne
strain any Of the trades, which are as alb
solately necessary on that day as any
other, from furnishing their wares during a
reasonable PARTON Of the day. Hence
the miIkman. the baker. the butcher. and
the apOthecary are available. not only in
this, bat in all communities where such
laws are enforced. st certain customary
hours Of the day-as in the morning, for
instance And in this connection, We ap-
Prehend that the story Of the Disciples in
the eoru-feld Is more applicable than it
would be to the keeping open houses for
retailing ardent spirits. or places of amuse-
meHt- Our correspondent is mistaken in
thinking that such laws do not prevail in
other parts of the world They are of
universal enforcement in all the New
England communities, and very general in
al communities deriving their laws and
customs from them, or from Scotland.
The msjority of our people believe that
Sunday is, in very truth religiously
speaking-a sacred day; and al that they
require from their fellow citizens is that
they shall abstain from labor, and such
amuseuents as offend their sense of right,
on that day. Surely, inasmueh as the
other SIX days are left, this Is no great
concession for the religious community to
demand.
But here step in the Legislators, and
some. moved BY the same sense of religious
Obligation 10 which we have alluded, and
Others, by the knowledge that.-physiolo-
gicaIly speaking-rest from labor is ueces-
sary, at least Is frequently as ole dly in
seven, they make the carrying on Of all
occupations Illegal. If an exception should
be made in favor Of one-(always except
ing the case of those which are alike ID
dispeusable to all D-it must be made in
favor of others Least Of al should it be
made in favor Of an occupation which none
reckon absolutely necessary-most posi-
lively injurious-Whieh Is ruiaous TO many
for which injurious traffic, Sunday, being
a day Of enforced leisure in other oceupa-
tons, would give most opportunity and
temptation, not only to those wrongly in
clined, but to those most easily tempted.
We have said above that the enactment
Of these laws Is in the interest of freedom
This may seem a paradox-yet. leaving
aside the religious aspect of the question,
the assertion Is true. By making labor
unlawful, they likewise make null and void
all contracts for labor, and take away, for
the most part. temptations to labor. 50
that the rich or greedy are not able to
force or tempt the needy or aEaricious to
work on that day. They give the sanctity
of the law to the custom Of paasing on
that day from grinding toll, or in the
headIong rush after the fancied good Of
wealth. and give the opportunity to rest
oneself.-to think Of something else-and
to enjoy, ir a quiet way, ones family, and
those comforts of which he may be pos
sessed That labor which Is respectable
o. the other days Of the week, becomes
the contrary on Sunday. That rest-idle-
ness. if you please-zhich was disreputa-
bic, during the six preceding days. becomes
on this day Of sll-perEading rest.