Delaware tribune. [volume] (Wilmington, Del.) 1867-1877, 1874-12-10
WILMINGTON. DEL
THURSDAY. Dt, EMBER 10, 1874.
f1PfNDiHCi nj NEW YORK.

An Issue OF which intimations have been CIV
on for some time past now presses for settle
ment in New York. A growing disregard Of the
restrictions and obseryanoes Of the Sabbath in
that city has been long noted and-the holiness
OF parties who would appropriate the day to
everyday uses renders it impossible to stave OF
further an open discussion Of the question.
1t must be admitted that the fact Of the matter
having reached it's present phase ii priD,a
tdoie evidence that considerable portion of the
people desire the disregsrded Sunday OF = new
dispensstion. The religious community may he
grieved and indignant, but that will not help
the case, the people themselves have made this
move and propristors Of shows and pleasure
gardens aud drinking places would not be active
IN the matter unless they had powerful back
ing. For themselves they are probably neutral
Unless Sabbath pleasure seekers were numerous,
thus ensuring them considerable profit, they
would show no particular feeling but being con-
WINGED that great numbers OF people are
determined on Sunday entertainment, they, az
mere business men, propose for their own parts
to see the thing through. And we may rs we'll
allow that it will be put through whether the
churches, and the body of people who are wed.
ded to the quiet Sunday idea, like it or not. 1t
Is free country and providing man does not
interfere with his neighbor he can dispose Of
his Sunday ~ seems to him best. II enough
persons Of his way of thinking be- found to
support Sunday theatre or Concert Room, those
places will surely open with managers
ready enough to fill the gap. The law Of supply
and demand will be seen to operate here as I'M
erringly IS elsewhere. The question of morals
has in fact very little to do with the case. 1t is
one Of numbers. If there are laws in any local
icy against Sabbath "desecration" those laws
must give way, il it be proved that the people
want to 30 desccrate, and provided that in so do
ing they do not break the peace.
For ourselves We are far from being in SYM
pathy with any such movements; We only
state the facts, Ms they will short
ly be proved, although there may
be ali unwllingness to admit their posi-
billy. Good people who feel so outraged and
Indignant at what they consider all abuse Of
christian order and observance must remember,
hrst that although this question attracts gener-
al attention il applies only to New York city
and second that even in New York Sabbath quiet
Will always be attainable for those who desire it,
and those who do must remain the bulk OF citi-
liens OF the better class. There must be one
New York but we believe no other American
community will or can attain its peculiar emi-
nence. New York can scarcely be called
End American city. Foreign influences
conbol it almost exclusively as now seen in it's
pleasures rs well as in its business and politics.
So, though public sentiment should force a re-
peal OF the present salutary laws against Sunday
Hinlselnents there, or should support such amuse-
meDts in defiance of law, there is no likelihood
tina! any similar result will be seen elsewhere,
for tho one and sufficient reason that no where
else Id there body OF people sufficient to carry
such measures in opposition to the conservative
element.
With all this, however, it must be
allowed that the Sunday question, in
broader yiew--as treating the proper use of
the day rs means of rest aud relaxation-ad.
niits of great deal being said on both sides on
the part OF the liberal-minded as well as of the
s'rict-constrlctionist. We have it upon the best
Of authority that ''the Sabbath was made for
man. not man for the Sabbath" and the great
majority of men get the only rest they have from
one years end to another on Sunday The i'm
portance OF this recurring season OF rest from
toll, and az far as may be from the anxieties
which are even more wearing than toll, is ILL
sisted upon by tho Psychologist no less yehe-
mently than by the theologian. The day is in-
deed blessed, whether its observance was divine
iy ordained or whether it was simply found to
DC Necessity Of human endurance.