The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1870-01-03

Our merchants may SELL and the Cuban Junta
can buy, to the content of their hearts and
the extent of their purses
II the Junta had looked among the decisions
of the Supreme Court of the United States,
they would have seen the declaration of that
tribunal, that 'there is nothing in our laws
or in the law of nations that forbids our citi-
zens from sending armed vessels as well as
munitions of war, to foreign ports for sale.
IL is commercial adventure which no nation
is bound to prohibit, and which only exposes
the persons engaged in it to the penalty of
confiscation."
But, while such commercial transactions
are permitted our municipal law as peremp-
torily forbids any person to provide or pre-
pare the means for ''any military expedition
or enterprise" to be carried on from our terri
tory against foreign power with which we
are at peace. The expectation of arms, ac-
companied by men enlisted here, either to be
used in the foreign country or to protect the
arms from capture in foreign waters, is de-
nounced both by the statute of this country
and that of England. The Catharine Whiting
was llbelled by the District Attorney, as that
officer informed the public at the time, not
''solely on the ground that she was about to
carry arms to the Cuban insurgents" as cargo
but because she was furnished and fitted out
as part of "a military expedition" consisting
of arms and enlisted men.
OPENING READING ROOMS ON SUNDAY.
From the NJ Y. Sun.
The Young Mems Christian Association is
benevolent institution, having for its object
the providing of rational and harmless amuse-
ment for the young men of the city, finding
them proper boarding houses and employ
ment, and in other ways looking after their
| moral and social welfare. 1t has just been
| enabled by the liberality of its patrons, to
| afa
| club house on the corner of Fourth avenue
and Twenty third street, containing lecture
| room, where very nice concerts are given
every week at low price, and reading
room well supplied with the periodical litera-
ture of the day. The obvious use of the
| building and appurtenances is to afford a
comfortable and attractive place of resort for
| young men, which will IN some measure
| counteract the temptations of barrooms and
| theatres, and the still more Objectionable
places with which the city abounds.
| The Mercantile Library Association is an
other institution of the same benevolent char
acter as the Young Mems Christian Associa-
ton. 1t, however, confines itself more
strictly to furnishing young men with intel
lectual entertainment 1t has an ample
library and a well-supplied reading-room, and
every winter classes are formed for the in
struction of its members at moderate charges
in the languages and practical sciences. To
aid it in its work a corporation called the
Clinton Hall Association, composed of num-
ber of our leading merchants and philanthro-
pists, purchased some years ago the building
in Astor place, now known as Clinton Hall,
and gave the Library Association lease of it
at low rent. This Association is still in the
occupation of the building, and naturally
cherishes feelings of gratitude and respect
towards the corporation that owns it.
The reading-rooms of both these institu-
tions-the Young Mems Christian Association
and the Mercantile Library Association-are
closed on Sunday. On that day the thousands
of young men who, during the rest of the
week, are Hospitality admitted to the rooms,
are bolted ana barred out, and driven to seek
refuge wherever else they may find it. A
movement is on foot to change this practice,
and open these reading-rooms on Sundays,
and we sincerely hope it may succeed.
In the case of the Young Mems Christian
Association, we presume nothing more than
a vote of a majority of its members is neces
sary to secure the needed reform; and that
) this will soon be given, there is no reason tC
7 doubt In that of the Mercantile Library
Association, the members have already voted
Overwhelmingly in favor of the measure, but
. their officers desire, out of courtesy to the
, Clinton Hall Association to which they are Sc
J much indebted, to secure also the consent o.
. that body. The matter was laid before the
Clinton Hall Trustees last spring, but thu,
far they have taken no definite action upor
: it, 1t has been referred by them to Specia
Committee, and that committee has not ye
y | reported.
The chief objection made by those who
oppose opening these rooms on Sunday il
probably the supposition on their part that il
) some way it will conflict with the prope
observance of the day required by tn
: fourth commandment 1t is thought that tn
: practice would involve servile labor on tn
S part of the persons in charge, which ough
| | not to be exacted of them on the Sabbath
8 Besides this, there may also be a lurking fea
t lest the attractions of books and newspaper
9 may prove superior to those of the pulpit
. and that young men may prefer going to tn
S reading-room to going to church.
! Of course no argument will be OF avail wit
) persons so bigoted as to take this narroN
: view of Christian duty Men who can draN
S distinction between the labors of a sextol
IS and those of reading-room keeper, o
n who can SEQ worse crime in reading
It magazine or newspaper in public than i
i doing the same thing in private, or VIII
It suppose that young men will go to churc
n from any other reason than because the
e like to, are not worth arguing with. Th
j. young men who want to have the two read
: ing-rooms we have mentioned opened Of
IS Sunday are in the majoIity, and they vii
e persevere in the effort until they succeed
}. their elders will not consent, they must b
It overruled, and if the officers whom the
). have heretofore elected will not comply wit
J.. their wishes, others must be elected who will
/, 1t is about time that antiquated prelude