The morning star and Catholic messenger. [volume] (New Orleans [La.]) 1868-1881, 1869-05-09
Sunday Laws 5

stance, In recent artlcfe, recOHiIncnus bnas
the city authorities should take some steps
towards showing their detestation of this;
evil, and their want of sympathy in the
legislative action on this subject, if it should
be only in shutting mp these establishments
on Sunday, or, as our neighbor piously,
though incorrectly calls it, "the Sabbath"
This only affords another instance of the
truth, that even good dispositions may be
carried to vicious extreme. A certain
amount Of indignation against the practice
of gambling ia undoubtedly good, but ought
not to he manifested in q bad way. Human
nature is fraii, and even its virtuons indig
nation may carry Into an excess far more
radical and fatal than the vice over which
it holds up its hands in horror.
The instances just cited from our much
esteemed contemporary may be case in
point, though probably Inadvertently 30.
There are certain private vices with which
civil government has nothing to do except
in so far rs they may come to affect public
order or private rights, and government
may let them pass in silence without any
responsibility being incurred for the evil.
But the tampering of government with
religion and religious questions, at least in
this country, is another and probably a
much worse thing.
If the government is going to take charge
of the " Sabbath" it will first have to settle
the question on which day of the week it
falls. This viii, beyond any shadow of
doubt, turn out to be Saturday, and the
Seventh Day Baptists will become the only
orthodox Church of the State.
If it declares itself protector of the
Christian HSabbath," even allowing that to
be transferred to Sunday, it must define
what are the obligations of that feast, and
what offends against its sacredness. The
adopts o. certain church as the established
authority on such points, and refers them
to it. This is precisely what all parties in
America agree in depreeating. m
The Puritanical element of this country,
whilst always bitterly inveighing in words
against established religions, and asserting
liberty of conscience, has always persist
entity labored to tinge local legislation with
IFS fanaticisnn, and TO set up it's special
hobbies under the sanction of laws. 1t
would not permit the recognition of God in
our national Constitution, yet annoys Sab
hieE u rfGs aCEEffiStiaa iDjanctions as to
Sunday. It runs away with it's perception
of the horrors of intemperance, and forth
with the majority limits the rations of the
minority in the liquor line. In vain Won
tell them that it is none of their business
that every man must judge for himself
what and how much he ought to drink.
They ans wer, awe are holy, and we have
stitutional, and in the excess of their zeal
they appeal to some imaginary higher law
the law of their own fanatical self-con-
ceit and intolerance.
1t is precisely such legislation as this
that the South has always rejected. Our
pleasant little neighbor, Mobile, was for q
number of years, and may be now, sufi-
GENTLY under the dominance of this ever
restless, meddling, domineering class of in
truders to snhmit- to -snch legiala&iou,-
the spirit actnating it is one totally foreign
to the sympathies of the Southern people
5 II gambling is a strictly private vice,
like lying, or hating, or chewing too much
tobacco, civil government has nothing to
do with it; if it is public crime like theft
or homicide, the government ought not to
wait until Sunday to check it.
The fact is, we cannot too arnestly i'm
press upon the public mind the necessity of
keeping civil government within its prop
or limits. Personal freedom is dependent
Upon this condition. The State has its
functions and it's vocation like corpora
ton or an agent. There is limit to its
power, beyond which it ought not to go.
The object of association in national
form would appear to be for mutual pro-
lection against violence and wrong. If we
want protection against the risks of fire or
tempest, we form an insurance company
if we want assistance against the tempta-
tions which lead us towards drunkenness
and bestiality, we form Temperance So
~.