, 1874-03-16
THE SUNDAY ORDINANCE.

Tho womon Of the Chicago Evangelical
churches have been callol upon ito meet in tho
Mc.hedist Church Block at O'Clock to-day,
there to unto in prayer and discussion until tho
hour Of tho regular session oT tho Common
Council, and then to proceed to the Council
Chamber with the purpoao OF securing tho do
feat Of tho proposed repoal Of tho Bunday ordI-
nanco. This IL tho frat practical Inauguration
in this city Of the Woman's temperance Crusade
started somo weeks since In Ohio. Tho Chi
cago movement ia much fairor and moro rational,
however, than the Ohio movement, since it Ia
directed against the lawmakers who Ncense
Iquor-selling, and not against the men who sell
liquor aftor having paid for such privilege
guaranteed to thom by tho law. So far, too, tho
Chicago movement docs not look to tho aup-
preston Of liquor-trafao altogether, but only to
its suppression ovor Sunday. In both these re-
Rpecss, the Chicago women who have entered
Into the crusade are entitled to tho credit
Of superior Judgment to that exercised
by their Ohio siatera. For several days petitions
to tho Common Council, begging that tho pros
ent Sunday Inv ba not repealed, have boon CIR
culated for signatures. The primary object Of
tho deputation Of women will DO to present these
petitions. Wheshor or not they will supplement
them with prayer, We do not know. But VIC do
know TINT to most men such o deputation would
DO as formidable rs tho recent visit Of the Com
muno. though In different why. It would not
surprise us, nevertheless to find tho "2s"
representatives Of the Peoples Party imparvious
alike to the petitions served on them and tho
prayers directed to Heaven.
There are two phasea to tho Sunday question
which have an eninently practical bearing on the
present movement. The question whether or
not tho saloons should ba kept open on Sunday,
was the vital iasuo In tho ass municipal election.
It was decided In the affirmative by q majority Of
| 12,000, In spite Of lamontably weak candidate
for Mayor, hurried organization, we'll
founded suapioions OF bnd Intentions On
the part Of somo Of the ofacc-scek-
| ers, aud otlor unfavorable circumstances.
Tho result demonstrated beyond peradventure
that largo majority Of the cltizous Of Chi
cago desire TINT the Haloons shall not be
cloRed. We cannot doubt that 1t tho same issue
were presented tomorrow, relieved Of tho en-
barraesmens Of tho Peoples Party politicians,
the result would be tho came. As the minority
| Of the Aldermen were eIeoted for tho express
| purpose Of repeating tho Sunday ordinance, It Ia
scarcely probable that thoy will decline to do It,
| There ia another important fact bearing Oh the
case. There ls now no protonae of enforcing tho
existing Sunday law Aside from tho delotorious
influence OF retaining laws on the atatute.boolts
Which are not enforced, tho ordinance now pro.
posed as substitute shows greater detorenco
to tho religious community than tho non.en-
forcemont Of tho old ono. It provides ~ that
tho Mayor may rofuae q license for llquor-sclling
whenever ho is not convinced Of the good char-
acter OF tho applicant, which is an Improvement
over the present ordinance and (2) that, In all
| places whore liquor Ia sold on Sunday, the doora
leading to the street hhall be closed and tho
| curtains drawn over the Windows, wheroas,
at present, the saloons sell with oponloors, aud
just aa publicly a. on any other day In tho week.
Wo arc not now arguing tho Sunday question or
the liquor question, We are simply showing tho
difference besween tue nou.onforcemtnt Of the
| prcsont Sunday ordinance and the snfofcemont
Of tue proposed substitute.
We cannot doubt that the women Hh{ visit tho
Council Chamber tonight will ho recef fyod With
Difference aud treated with respect. AlOhloago
would loudly protest against snysid.s (lso. ia
whiting tha local AM-salkass, tho Chicago