South-eastern Independent. (McConnelsville, Ohio) 1871-1871, 1871-09-08
From the n. Y. Evangelist Of August 81 ]
THE SUNDAY LAW QUESTION.
BIZ Rev. r. L. STANTON. D. D.
CINCINNATI Aug. 21st, 1871.

"a l[hflOI AoSoNhOh VI Wv
J observance of the Sabbath, in scme
form or other, Is always u standing
question. just now. IN many por-
mons % the country, it assumes tie
form of maintaining or repeating
the laws which protect the Sab.
bath.
The present agitation OF the
question, which seems very recent
~ 10 have extended 10 many cities
in the West, began in Cincinnati
The ordinances of the city, and the
laws of the State of Ohio. bearing
upon this general question. r sim
| liar To those on the siatute books
of every city and State in the I'M
ion. They regard the first day OF
the week ;s n day OF rest pro-
hjbit common labor OIL this day,
protect religious assemblages from
annoyance. and especially denO1nce
ali riotlng and revelry. The OrdI-
nances of the city are particularly
stringent III regard to cram-sbops.
They require them to be. closed en-,
tirely on Sunday; and do not Sllow
amy liquor to be sold, or given away
anywhere, except for medicinal
purposes. The most decided law
on this subject has been on the
statute book of the city council for
many years, uncomplained of until
within "a few months. But it has
recently awakened opposition, and
the proclamation now is, "War To
the knife against all Sunday Laws,
City and State p
The explanation Of this furnr is
simple. Former municIpl officers
have not enforced these laws. They
have been a dead letter for twenty
years. The officials of the city
have consulted their popularity
more than they have regarded
their oaths of Office and the true
interests of the people. As a con-
sequence, vice has greatly increased,
and LIQUOR selling and beer gardens
have had it all their own way. In
THIS advance of immortality. Sunday
has been u marked day. The rec
ord OF crime IN the Monday dali
lies, resulting almost uniformly
from liquor. began TO awaken
alarm. Ministerial associations pc
tItioned successive Mayors to en-
torco the laws. but in vain. Crime
increased, vice in every form be-
came more bold, and certain Suh-
day carousines, which were more
and more common, seriously dis
iurbed religions worship. Al
length the present Mayor of Cincin-
natl, Hon. S. S. DAVIS, who was
elected in April last although
The matter of enforcing the Sunday
laws Was not made a special point
in the election-resolved to PIT
these laws IN force. He began
gradually, feeling his way, possibly
wishing to see whether he WAS to
be supported by the better portion
Of his constituents. Ministerial IN
sociatIons and other bodies came
promptly 10 his aid, applauded bis
course, and pledged themselves to
stand by him. He went on, step
by step. closing groo shops. beer
gardens, prohibiting certain Sun
day concerts stopping beer wagons,
and arresting and fning persistent
offenders, until, under .hese whole
some measures, the city begun to
pat On, IN outward appearance ut
l"as', the garb of respect for the
Lords day. All this has been the
work OF u few weeks.
A was natural. this aroused the
liquor sellers. and they enlisted in
their interest the f~requenters of
beer gardens and Sunday concerts,
and all who wish to have a stree
and easy time" on Sunday, and rev-
ell and at pleasure. The
discussion began in the daily pa
pers. Those who took the lead in
opposition 10 the Mayors course
were mostly Germans, though they
are Joined by all who keep and
freely %patrunize dram shops, and by
the In6del and immoral classes, and
the opposition has finally taken the
form of demanding the repeal of
every legal restriction upon Sun
day, relating to labor or ~revelry,
whether found in the ordinances of
the city, or IN the laws or cunst.tu-
ulon of the Stale. We have thus
presented the broadest issue. 1t
strikes at the very root of Ia pres
ent civilization, and proposes MOTH
ing less than 10 change that ele-
ment, which o than any other,
has given character 80 the Ameri-
can ma NE and people.
ibe principles involved In this
discussion have been announced
with commendable dIstihcIness and
candOr. Public meetings have been
held on both sides in the largest
Falls In the city. Able men have
enlisted, embracing some of the
most distinguished o. the legal pro-
iessiOn, and the whole ground has
been pretty thoroughly canvussed.
1t Is mt beyond the truth to say.
that Tor numbers and high social
position, the meeting held IN favor
oi maintaining the laws tar excced-
cd the several meetings held I n OPP
position aud il is very gratifying
10 observe the most distinguished
gentlemen of the Cincinnati bar,
of all shades Of political and rclig-
ious opinion (who hold to the
S~crIpturcs), boldly committing
themselves In favor of sustaining
and enforcing the Sunday laws,
both city and State.
OF the daily papers, so good a
record cannot be made. Cincinnati
has a very large German ponula-
tior they sustain several daily
papers printed in their own lam
guage. and ull these are for repeal.
The whole German population,
however, are not Tor repeal. There
are several evangelical German
churches 4; they sustain Il weekly
paper; they are against repeal aud
IhIs m WIS Y~eDr.seuia1 nm