The daily Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1873-1877, 1875-01-02
Sunday Laws.

their statute books some severely strict
laws about the due observance of Sunday,
which are enforced only in exceptional
cases, and usually do injustice then. In
recent case in Massachusetts,, poor me-
chanic of Boston brought suit against that
city for damages suffered by falling from
the approach to bridge into the water
The bridge had been swung open on dark
night, and left open. The lamps on the
approach were not lit, and no barrier was
put up. 1t was so clearly case of gross
negligence that theycity had to seek some |
other defense than that of due care. The
mechanic was walking, when he fell, to see
a man who had promised him work, and
he wasIwalking on Sunday evening: The
city attorney raked out of the statue-book
of the state an old act which forbade such
use of the day and the plaintiff was non
suited, On the ground that the law would
not grant redress for an injury incurred
while the sufferer was breaking the law
There are other cases equal unjust. Thus,
in Connecticut, contracts made on Sunday
are void, the money paid on that day for
goods which are not subsequently deliver
| ed, cannot be recovered. We are glad to
note the fact that the courts are beginning
to interpret these rigid statutes, the relics
of mode of thought and lite which finds
| few followers now, with wise liberaity.
The supreme court of New York has held
that the statute of that state which torblds
any person to EXPOSE to sale anything
except meats, milk, and fish on Sunday,
and makes the exception end at A. NJ. Is
intended merely to stop public sales, and
does not invalidate any private contract,
made in quiet and orderly way. 50 a
note given or dated on Sunday is good
The Kentucky court of appeals has recent
ly rendered decision which displays the
acme of art in getting around the ken-
lucky law which forbids contracts
ON Sunday. The decision lays
down the following rules: In
general, contracts made in CONFIRMATION OF
an express statue are void This is not,
however, exactly the case with those made
on Sunday. The-latter are illegal only in
the element of tune. When they are purg-
ed of this they become valid. Purgation
takes place when they are subsequently,
affirmed, by word or deed. IT one party
has paid or done anything under the con
tract, and the instrument is not affirmed,
he may demand restitution or compensa-
ton. Then, if the second party refuses
such restitution or compensation. he is tc
be considered as having affirmed the con
tract! This is very neat. 1t makes cheat
ing under the pretense of observing Sun
day an impossibility, Now that a court Of
large jurisdiction has has taken this liberia
view of law that should be obsolete, it il
reasonable to suppose that its views will
obtain also in other states.
! There is a strong and growing public
. sentiment against compulsory observance
: of Sunday as day OF abstinence from re
e creation, or even from labor, by persons
= who look upon Sunday in different ligh
. from that of our early Puritans. 1t is wei
known that there has been for long tern
of years decided conflict of opinion ant
practice on this subject between the chris
tians of the continent of Europe aud .hos'
of the island Of Great Britain. Continen
/ tai Professionals, as we'll as Continental Ro
man Catholics, have always allowed them
D. selves amusements on Sunday which tn
English and Scotch regard as sinful Lu
a Their used to drink wine and dance, an,
}. Calvin to play cards. on Sunday afternoon
and their followers, to this day, initial
their example How Sunday is Observes
IS in Roman Catholic countries every travel
: Ter knows 1t is feast day, in fact a
! we'll as in name. and the idea of banishin
public amusements from it is nowhere en-
:, tertained, When, therefore, we conside
p the increasing multitudes who have emi
/ grated from Europe to this country, accu<
- toned TO treat Sunday as a festival, an
the quite considerable number of thos
% who have no convictions at all of its sacred
II ness, 1t seems an unWarrantable interior
st ence with personal freedom to deprive theI
of any decent Sunday recreations. IF til
object OF the law were to prevent their dis
X turbing, by noisy revelry. the deyotions O
their stricter fellow citizens, it might be de
Tended as proper protection OF the latte
is in the exercise OF their rights as religion
- wOrshippers, but such is not the case. |
W is mere attempt to impose on one elias
the religious practices of another class fo
/. the qualification of zeal which, hoWevo
contentious, must be regarded by an in
4 partial observer as sectarian and even Fl
~ natical
The truth is that, the Sunday laws coul
70 not be kept another year on the statut
book it their fate were to be decided by tn
4 people. 1t is time that such laws were re
pealed and no laws left in force which al
ply to Sunday any more than to the Fourt
If of July or Christmas. The Puritan Sur
IS day is not the Sunday of our Blessed Sa,
d Jour. The Puritan Sunday is an abom
e nation: the Sunday Of our Blessed Lor
is day of happiness and peace.
(Iraat haroainc in ITpdar Cb;rtc %,