Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1872-10-26
The Sunday Law.

The most important feature Of what Is know,
US the Sunday Law" is that portion OF il w:.y-
refers to the sale of intoxicating drinks Oh ST..
Gays; and it Is this portion more than n! the p.
mainder Of the law that has given rise 10 ~
contention in reference to conducting seo.a'
business on the Sabbath and, after Il cNrcll! T.
animation Of the subject III all its bearing, .a
ls apt to conclude that the question Is one VI i.
should be submitted to public vote for NJ Z:
mcnt; for it is not only the only way in W.
such law should be made but in my opI.
it is the only way in which such Il question. "a.
be firmly and ultimately settled. The OH
most to be obtained is to make the law one u
direct consent OF the people, and not thccr,:s.. =
of majority Of the City Council, to be ira
formed ut any time that that maj orty may ".'.
to exercise its power. Those who are in tsy>
of the law are not So selfish rs TO be unwl,''.
to allow those who oppose the law n full "rE"''
tunity to express their opposition to 1t hy a W..
and those who are against the law will n"i. "i.
would think hesitate to mbracc chance t. g,
press their opinion through the bAllot-b"S Tbs
there is divided opinion on this part al /,
Sunday Law among our cl:iZcnS Their" call '
no doubt, and 80 long rs the popular "l'"."-
remains undclincd on the subject there can ur"
er exist satisfactory execution OF the las, =.
rs it now is devices and cXpcdicnts vii. A~"
cunning ways, will ever produce wiles To "r.As.
rass the officers who attempt 50 enforce ii, VI.
wearied by u perpetua! struggle with repeaie>
infractions of its provisions they Will relax ih"l
efforts, and after while conclude TIA. Il j
worse than uselcs to attempt to eno-cca lA''"
ure that has So little as temporary majority ="
Council TO sustain it against so much that i o..
culatcd to render its enforcement a nevcr-rl,'n
contest of lruitiessness and impracticabiiNy III
hr,r,
utility and contempt. If an election = pr".raI
ed and the people decide that intoAc.;"-
drinks shall be sold on Sunday, then the c2nt"'
between the executive officers of the law n
those now affected by it will end and the L"
Council will have to fall back upon il .a
against secular business on Sundays to coUh:t
act any evil that may arise from such dcci,i" .
but if the people decide that Intoxicating dr.r.
shall not be sold on Sundays within the c
limits, then no bitterness will be harbor"! q,
all opposition will cease, and the executive.
the law can enforce it without an unpleasant 4 I
play OF official con mand, and al espresso y,
ular wish will sustain them in their pose
Then the keepers Of drinking houses, ilk" T.
merchants, Will quit their places ut til" time RI
scrihed By the ordinance, and think no, OF
ginning again their callings until Mondays"
ing. and the hush Of the business OF Satu:!
night will find its counterpart in the calm. So
silence of quiet Sabbath Therefore, in e..
dience to these facts, and in view of mAnyo:h
that could be educcd to further corrobo:a
them, am decidedly Of the opinion tha:
best possible disposition which can be ma!"
this most troublesome question is to <uo'n': !"
direct vote of the people, and allow them
decide for themselves and l am strength
in my belief by historical reference to the %
four years in finding that all efforts to eAi':'
the Sunday Law amid the prcsen: :HFT"sA,, ~,
inn hus hDn han "A oh o.
struggle between two powess, each having EN- ~.
influence to resist the other. Most resp"ri,Gm,!
j. B. JOHNSON, MI
Alexandra, October 2G, 1872.