South-eastern Independent. (McConnelsville, Ohio) 1871-1871, 1871-09-08

dIslinctively American. This has
aroused the friends of the Sabbath
on all sides; AID the issue is sharp
ly defined.
1t may be we'll to give a 5riet
quotation. to show the dnimus oil
those who oppose the American
Sabbath. II is from u German pas.
tors discourse, and is a fair expon-
ent of the views IF the mass of those
who are for the repeal of the Sun
day laws. 1t Will be seen that op-
position to evangelical religion
bald Infdelity-is at the bottom.
Speaking of the Ten Command
ments he says:
They are the commandments of
Moses, which he gave, il is true, in
the name of God, but which aI e
only divine IN so far as they are
written in reason and conscience.
When Moses caused a man TO be
stoned because he gathered some
fire wood on the Sabbath, lie cer>
'tainly did not act by the command
Of God" He then puts the Sunday
and temperance laws together, say
ing: "Fhey are own cousins, and
Puritanism is their common fount-
ain. Every PuritanIc Sunday SAINT
is also a water Apostle and v,cc
uerSa." He asks Are these laws
founded in the religious and moral
wants in general. or in Christianity
IN partIcuarP"-and he says: "We
answer, without hesitation, No,
they r not"
All these men are fond of throw
ing mud at the Puritans, and 10
hear them talk one would think
that New England Is the hot bed oil
all that is evil. The Rev. gentle
man quoted above contends that the
PurItans have changed our Christ.
ian Sunday to a Jewish Sabbath
with all it dark stringency )" and
then to give point TO this, adds =
"The notorious blue laws went even
further in their requirements thar
the most stringent traditions OF the
Pharisecs." II is said that "com-
parsons are odious," but this gen.
Ileman draws a comparison between
the German and the American Sab.
oath, TO the disadvantage OF the
latter, always connecting the Tenn.
perance and Sabbath question =
''On the whole continent of Europe,
and especially in Germany, nothing
Is known of Temperance or Sunday
laws. Those who choose to do So
go to church in the morning, and
then with his wife and child spend
a pleasant Sunday afternoon in
drinking a glass of beer or wine.
And are the Germans less mora
than the strict water Puritans
Moral corruption is greater here
than there, in spite Of all our Sun
day laws" and then these laws
he Says: Away with them, moi
merely in the interest Of individual
and civil liberty, but also out OF
religious and mora considerations v
Passing by he error that there
are no laws in Germany regulating
Sabbath observance, these extracts
give the spirit of those who are en-
listed IN The movement for repeal.
Like all such questions, tins runs
into politics. Both because IL Is to be
made an issue at the polls, and be-
cause it strikes at principles which
lie ut the basis of America civiliza-
ton, has the discussion of tins
question here awakened an unusual
interest all over the country. As
il Is &c be met here at the ballotb"x.
so u IS to be met everywhere and
tonight u upon tho same srena.
The State election comes on in
OhiO in October. Those who are
for the repeal Of the Sunday laws
have declared that they will 9ues'
ton every candidate for Office
whether for the Legislature or for
any other post, on the subject o.
repeal. They r determined, they
afirSn, TO work until the ordinances
of the city are purged of ever, thing
which in any manner recognizes
the Sabbath. and makes any dis
junction between Sunday and any
other day ofihs week. They also
intend TO have the statutes Of the
State purgej in like manner, and
even to have the Constitution o.
Ohio amended TO the same effect.
The object in amending the Constitution
is to relieve it of every recogr ition OF re-
ligion. 1t says nothing about the SabbAt
directly, but It speaks Of religion anC
morality ,, as /" essential to good COVER
ment," and even this is too much for oul
opponents, and betrays The whole move
ment essentially inidel if not truly atheis
tic. The present Constitution Of the STATE
provides for its own amendment once IL
twenty years. The year of am sndment II
1872, and the last Legislature provided fol
II vote on calling a Convention Tor u is pur-
pose at the election to be held in October
Hence the Importance of questioning can
didatcs- The Legislature to be then elect
ed meets in January next. and will bt
competent to repeal the Sunday laws
Hence the issue at the polls. No Mayor oil
council iOT CINCINNATI Will De electeu OoIOrt
April next, but the present Boards are com
petent to change the city ordinances
though ii IL maintained that it would b,
unfair to bring that issue upon them. al
they were not elected with the Sunday
subject in view.
l have thus given you the issues involv'
ell. Now, in closing, it may be well to in
auirs, What i@-Ikaly tn be the result o.
the appeal to the ballot box? How will
it be in the city, and how in the Statef
II the present Boards are to decide upor
the city ordinances, their repeal may bt
accomplished, though many believe the,
will be allowed to remsin. OF the two
Boards, the larger and popular branch ha,
al eady voted, twenty-six to sixteen, fol
repeal. But the board of Aldermen are yet
to act, and il is confidently asserted tina
they will not concur. We shall sooa know
But even if they should concur, the ques'
tion will be made an issue in the election
in April next. In such a city as Cincinnati
it Is doubtful what the result would be. II
would surprise me much If the popular
vote should sustain the avs as they are,
If it is understood that they are to be faith
fully enforced. They have remained IN
disturbed simply because they have been G
lead letter. But wen if the friends of the
Sabbath should be defeated in the contest
| over the city ordinances, the State la VS. are
ample for the city, both as regards the
liouor traffic on Sunday, and all other vic,
Iaitons oftha srnctity OF the Law. But are