Eureka daily sentinel. [volume] (Eureka, Nev.) 1871-1887, 1873-02-07
The Policy Of a Sunday Law.

SoASOus vi viz SNoJSSe Va eAIS SSoooNh,
and the policy of having q Sunday
Law in this State. He took for his
text the words The Sabbath was
made for man. and not man for the Sab
bath" He gave some facts, collected
by the efforts Of individuals and soci-
cites. to prove that one day of rest, in
every seven, is absolutely necessary
for the physical, intellectual, social
and moral well being of the human
race. He differed with those who re-
garded the Sabbath IS only a day of
bodily rest and recreation. and with
those who devote it exclusively to re-
ligious exercises. After taking this
middle ground at the beginning of his
sermon, he went or to argue that the
pursui: of business and labor On Sun
day was detrimental to the interests
and opposed to the wishes of working
peorle generally, and that many were
compelled to labor for seven days in
the week or leave the State. He con-
demned all unnecessary labor on Sun
day, but Mas willing to leave every
man to decide for himself what was
necessary. He was in favor ofinnocent
recreation on Sunday, but the tenor
Of his discourse seemed to indicate
that he was not willing to leave the
question of their innocence to every
man to decide. He thought that CAPT
talists and of mills and rail-
roads living out of the State would
oppose a Sunday law, and also a GER
tain class of laboring men who had
no home or abiding place; but that
working men with families would
hail the passage Of such a law this
Winter with joy. The gentleman
professed to be very liberal in his
senti nents in reference to an exclu-
sive Sabbath. The following is his
language on hat point:
Most of the saloon-keepers would
respect the law after it had passed,
however much they might oppose its
to work for its passage. He would
not have the Christian Sabbath men,
toned. The name of Sunday is suf-
ficient. There should be no SAVIOR of
sectarianiSm in the law. He favored
Sunday as a day OF rest because it had
been adopted by ninety-nine of every
hundred Of the people of the United
States. He would be perfectly will
ing to have Saturday or Monday or
any other day of the week. Sunday
itself is no more sacred than Friday.
The world is too large now for any
one to be particular in regard to the
day when the Sabbath should be kept.
The principles of the Christian relig-
Sive, too tolerant for any one to con-
tend that any particular day is more
sacred, more holy than any other
day. Sunday is no more sacred than
Friday. The duty OF all is to keep
the day that is set apart by the ma
jOrity of our citizens.
After all this liberal doctrine, it is
rather surprising to find the gist of
his whole sermon in the fact that he
urged his hearers to attend some
place Of worship at least once every
Sunday.
1.-THE object of a Sunday law were
not made SO plain by its religious adj
vocates, there would be little oppo-
sition from any class to it's enactment
or enforcement. But the denial to
men of their right to employ or amuse
themselves in their own way on Sun
day is the main cause of such opposi-
ton. So strong is this feeling against
any offoy,,nf t> <o,t.ol tLo;. ,a.-
Sunday, that the Senator who has in
troduced this bill for a Sunday law
has not dared to call it such, but has
entitled it, a bill for the protection of
laborers in mills and mines, and 9TH
er occupations. The failure to enforce
the provisions of the California Sun
day law ought to lie "A warning to our
legislators. Men will not be deprived
Of their own free choice of the way
in which they shall enjoy their day
OF rest, ifthey have one, nor be forced
by laws restricting their amusements
on Sunday to enter a church, because
forbidden to go from home in any
other direction to occupy their time.
There is no Roman Catholic govern
ment on earth that attempts to con-
troll the amusements of the people on
Sunday or any other day and in this
there is a striking contrast with the
governments of our Protestant States.
Another objection to a Sunday law
is the difficulty of drawing the line
between necessary and unnecessary
employments. Every nan will claim
to know best what is necessary for him,
and deny the right of others to de-
eide for him. A law of this kind
cannot be made to operate equally
upon all. The exceptions must be
too numerous, as they are in the Cali
fornia code. 1t would no doubt be a
good thing for everybody, if they
would take more rest and recreation.
But this can be done on one dav as
we'll as another. The Rev. Mr.. Allen
himself as opposed to ex-