The daily Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1873-1877, 1876-05-10

The Centennial Sunday Law.

The centennial managers, after prolong-
ed discussion, have decided by vote of 81
to 9 to close the exposition on Sunday.
This settles the matter definitely and per-
manently, for with such a heavy majority
in favor Of the closing it is, of course, ex-
tremely improbable that there will be any
movement toward reconsideration. We
had hoped, however, that wiser counsels
would prevail; that the management would
appreciate the fact that the enterprise
intrusted to them was neither a local nor
an exclusively national affair, but cosmopol-
itan in its plan and purpose, and should
therefore be placed upon the broadcast and
most liberal basis. The decision reached
is just such one as might have been
perfectly proper, if the exposition had
been purely a Philadelphia speculation
relying upon Philadelphia patronage for
support, and consequently to be kept free
from anything and everything which could
disturb Philadelphia prejudlces. How it
is regarded by European eyes may be in
ferred from the remarks Of Monsieur Du
Sommerard, chief of the French commits
sion. to the correspondent Of the Chicago
Tribune:
II consider that the order closing the grounds
visitors, who will thereby be compelled to waste
Just seventh of the time set apart by them for
the purpose of seeing the exhibition. In view of
the fact that the expenses to be eXtravagant
do not think it right for the commission to force
their Puritani,al ideas upon the people at large"
Force" is just the word The order
compels visitors, native as well as foreign,
to stay in Philadelphia longer than they
would otherwise be obliged to, or else go
away with their curiosity unsatis6ed
whereas had the doors remained open
throughout the week there would have
been no forcing on the one side or the
other Those who wanted to go to church
on Sunday could have gone, and those
who preferred going to the exposition
could have been at liberty to do so. As il
is, the church goers virtually take the non-
church goers by the throat and say: I'VE
will do as we please, but you shall not dc
as you please" Sound doctrine, perhaps
for a Quakerized community, but hardly
az appropriate for worlds fair. But it viii
bring an immense addition to the receipts
of Philadelphia hotel keepers, which seem:
to be the main object of the management
There is another aspect of the question
which ought rot to be ignored, and to
which alluson was made in an article
!
announced The working classes are prac
tically excluded from the exposition by
the door closing ordinance. Sunday i:
their only day Of rest aud recreation
They cannot afford to take n week day,
because they are earning their bread b!
the sweat Of their brows, aud u day
wages lost is too heavy draft upon tlei
scauty incomes. They could and would e
on Sunday, because the pecuniary sacrifice
would be limited to the admission fee ant
such refreshments as they might choose I
purchase. There would have been NOR,
visitors on Sunday than on any other day
and three fourths of them from the WORK
ing classes Sunday trains would hav
run from New York. and Baltimore, bring
ing multitudes from these cities and tn
intermediate towns and villages; so 1t
quite safe to calculate that the action
the managers will prevent two or thrt
million people from ayailing themselves {
an opportunity for entertainment and il
struction such as they have never had b
fore and never will have again. An
bear in mind. these two or three million
are laboring men and women-the vel
!, portion of community which the expositiC
i would most benefit.
We do not doubt that persons who ha1
G succeeded in passing the Centennial Su
! day law really believe they have done tn
!, cause of religion great service. They ha'
y injured il rather, by creating an antago
y ism which will last long after the Phil
= delphia show has departed. Every ma
= woman or child who is prevented fro
= seeing the exposition by the enactment
y this law will lay the blame upon religio
S They will feel that they have been u
justly deprived of great pleasure, al
i the sense of wrong will bring forth
appropriate fruit. Christianity cannot
e propagated in any such way; the sancti
Z of the Sabbath cannot be protected by a.
!; such means. On the contrary both W
y suffer from an act which reason, JUST
and common sense must pronounce y
{ only foolish but oppressive st Lon
Republican.
Legal Blanks, of all kinds for sale