The Opelousas journal. [volume] (Opelousas, La.) 1868-1878, 1873-04-12
AN EVIL CUSTOM.

At certain intervals, longer or shorter
as the case may be, we devote a few lines
in our paper to protest against rooted
evil in our community. We mean the
universal custom of keeping stores open
until past noon on the Sabbath.
Of course we enter this protest simply
from a sense of duty, and without the
faintest hope that it will have the slight,
est effect. Nothing short of Legislative
enactment, or some concentrated action
among the town authorities, or perhaps
arefex wave of the evolto Of labor against
capital which is now CONFUSING the
world, will remove the reproach from
our midst. That it is a reproach, and a
dire one upon this little corner of the
earth, which, in the midst Of the nine
teenth century civilization, still clings to
old frontier customs, no one can con-
scientiously deny.
If there is another town in the Uni
ted States, of the size and age of Ope-
lousas, where this custom prevails, We
do not know it. If there is another
Christian community where such a cry
ing evil against all religious teachings is
not emphatically and continuously de-
nounced, we would be tempted to say,
and think, that the %watchmen of Zion
were slumbering at their posts.
Putting entirely aside the religiousas-
pect of the case, which addresses itself
only to a limited number, we repeat that
this peculiar form Of Sabbath breaking
opposes itself to the progressive ideas of
the nineteenth century. Men to whom
religious beliefs are mere chimeras still
uphold certain moral, physiological, and
physiological ideas for the government
of mankind. The scientists contend that
man requires n day out of seven for a
relaxation of mind or body strained to
its utmost tension by its continuous Ia
Dor. They prove their position conclu-
siyely by the mental or physical deterior-
alton of the ceaseless labOrer. ..'
It is through the arguments and in
struetion of this body of men, thatlabor
has to-day afrayed itself against capital,
and that strikes of the working classes
against employers for the precious boon
of time, are common in every portion of
the world. The working classes are no
longer ignorant, ~illiterate men, but edu-
Gated up to the duty ofhusbanding their
strength, that it may endure for the sup
port of those dependent upon them.
Their employers money is not potent
enough to buy the life hours ON which
their health and strength recuperate for
O further struggle.
We would like to know what these
educated workingmen would think of
our Sunday system. They clamor for
only eight or ten working hours on week
days, (of course Sunday belongs exclus-
lively to them as an absolute necessity,
and before the world ismany years older
they will secure their claim. Here the
store doors which open before sunrise
and close after dark during the week,
are unbarred as regularly ON the Sab
bath, and the same labor required of the
human machines upon whom falls the
Onus of the work. An employe here
who would refuse to work half the Sab
bath, would o be hustled out of all
employment. As to most of them en-
ployment means daily bread, the expert
ment wouldbe toocostly a one to be tried.
Ina atepaper, inthe Modern Think
err a Positivist addresses a letter to the
millionaire, A. T. Stewart, upon the po-
sition of the two classes arrayed against
each other, the capitalists and the work
ing people. Although q Positivist, his
moral view of the subject is a good one.
The revolt in the working classes-the
spreading disaffection in their ranks is
clearly traceable to the indifference of
employers to the welfare of employees.
These last have too long been regarded
al mere machines, upon whose success
full work some men rise to fortune and
success, but who, when worn out beyond
use are thrown aside with no more ON
junction than any other worn out spring
of the money-gettingmachiner of COM
merce and trade.
The clerks and other employees are
those most injured by the Sunday traffic
system in 0pelousas. There is no time
given them for Improvement or relaxa-
ton. They r mostly young men in.
fluenced, as young people generally are,
by their surroundings. The morning
chime of church bells has to them no
significance beyond marking the time
for q comparative lull of custom. What
ever OF holiness belongs to the day, it
does not penetrate beyond the counter
where sharp trade is carried on, and the
morning bitters poured out to thirsty
customers. Whatever sacred recollee-
tions cluster around church going Sab
baths, must necessarily die out beneath
the exigencies of Sunday traffic. What
ever physical strength lies in a mans
system can be drained ont by the eternal
drip, drip, drip of ceaseless, continuous
work, eVenifitislight. Whatever moral
or mental backbone may give tone to q
mans nature, NJ think ii must warp to
neetthe requirement of Sunday trading.
There is not q merchant here who, spo-
ken to Individually, does notexpress his
perfect willingness to give mp Sunday
trading, il there would only be concerted
action among his confreres on the sub
ject. We cannot understand why all
fhis inf7ividnal WILLINGNESS aon,a+ b,sn.