The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1876-07-10
aheGntelIilqs r.
THE SUNDAY QUESTION.
The Centennial commissioners
Decide not 10 open ON
that Day.
MIR. RoteIer's Remarks on Behalf
Of West Virginia.

of West Virginia.
PHILADELPHIA, July s.-AiLer a sharl
and decisive debate the Centennial Com
mission decided yesterday TO affirm thei
Grst decision, and keep closed on Sunda.
The exposition gates. The body met il
Judges hall at II A. NJ, and at first Their
Wa small attendance, but as the sessiO
grew apace the members dropped in, AM
before the debate was finished the meet
lug was quite full.
The preliminary steps we're the presen
talion Of petition Of the Maryland
State temperance alliance requesting ~
Commission TO abide by their original DE
termination 10 keep the exposition ciosee
on Sunday There was another Ietisi!pi
from the temperance league asking t,it
abolition'of the sale oil liquor Oh '''S
grounds, both OF which were filed, ,u
AT previous meeting Mr.; poIa'IIa ouh
ofIdaho, presented resolution to kecI q,
The grounds open on Sunday, prGvlue9,
ste,9 be NOT used in machinery hali ana
iSat No exhibitor be compelled to keep his
exhibit open. n,.,.. ,,.o,or,sJ =,
MI, itn,iV Which sci forth that, after a
resia' and respectful hearing Of the dis.
anssion on both sides Of the Sunday ques-
ion the commission could see no reason
~ change their position, and therefore
JccIjned 10 make any change in the rule
IN cIose the exposition on Sunday.
There was some little discussion wheth.
a, tbis latter WA n substitute for Mr.
Donaldson's resolution, and in order TO
place the record straight, Mr.. Loring, Of
Massachusetts, moved that It be subsi-
tuted as an amendment, which was agreed
10.
This opened the discussion, which was
begun by Mr. George b. Loring, Of Massa'
chusetts, in favor Of keeping the gates
closed. He said that from the very be-
ginning Of this question he was in favor
Of closing, and that since then he con-
scientiously adhered TO the same opinion.
He did so because it was in accordance
with all the habits and customs OF the
American people from the earliest time
to keep sacred this day. The same Sen
timents which infused our ancestors we're
still the sentiments OF our people now
touching this day. 1t was officially and
legally recognized as day OF devotion
and rest. II the gates were thrown open
it would DO opening the iloOd'gatesi
which in future years would be fatal to
the morality OF the nation. He was the
president OF an agricultural society in his
State, and if he was to attempt to open il
on Sunday the boys would rise mp and
clear il out.
Mr.. Donaldson remarked that probab'
" the gentleman alluded to horse trot,
which, he said, was n bed comparison
with this exposition.
This remark caused laugh, in which
the speaker joined heartily.
Mr.. Loring spoke Of the general seni'
ment in favor OF closing and thought that
it would be great wrong to this chris
tian people to desecrate day which for 9
century they had held in reverence and
spent in devotion.
Mr.. Nelson, OF Alabama, followed with
brief speech in favor Of opening. lie
contended that thisexposition was for the
many; il was for the people who deman'
del that they should have an opportunity
to visit this refining and intellectual ex-
hibition on their day OF rest. The Sun
day which the other side spoke OF was not
as God fixed ii. lie remembered reading
Of David, and others inspired by God,
who on this day arrayed themselves in
their best garb, and got out their harps
and wine, and praised Him from their
hearts, lie believed that God could be
"a honestly worshipped in the park or
woods as in church, and that the Sunday
ms the other side wanted to fix il was
not MS the Great Creator intended II to
be.
Mr.. McNeal, Of Missouri, contended
that this question was one OF revenue
and that ii was.a question for the board
OF finance to decide, as the commission
long ago had resolved not to consider
anything relating to this subject. lie
spoke briefly in favor OF keeping open
on the Sabbath.
Mr.. Morrell, OF Pennsylvania, said he
would not make speech on the matter,
except as il related 10 question OF faith.
He contended that it would be violent
breach Of faith 10 those who had goods
on exhibition and to those who had in.
vested their money in the enterprise 70
open it on the Sabbath. He knew ol
members of this commission, who should
this exposition be opened on this day.
with bowed heads would resign and 60
10 their homes. He knew OF exhibitors
also who would withdraw their displays
il this was done.
Governor Mccormick, Of Arizona, here
remarked that in one Of the reports to
Congress, as far back as 1871, the com.
mission said they would not open on
Sunday.
Mr.. Latrobe insisted that II was gen.
orally understood by the exhibitors that
the exposition was to be closed on this
Iay: that on the faith OF this they sent
their goods, and on this ground he would
vote 10 close until the day Of his death
Mr.. Boteler, OF West Virginia. said
that three years ago the decision Of the
commission was to keep closed on Sun
day. There we're speeches both fluent
and strong made, and published in the
Journals, and nj that time not the least
adverse criticism appeared or was met
with, and il was accepted by the people.
He said that should he vote to open the
grounds every old woman in West Viz:
ginia would chase him TO the borders oil
the State with broomsticks.
Mr.. Donaldson here took the opportu..
nifty to read an extract from the rules OF
the commission which said that this
body could at any time reverse or change
any Of its laws by majority vote; he,
therefore, claimed that the resolution 10
close could be reconsidered.
Mr.. Nelson raised little commotlon
and considerable applause by remarking
that most OF the commissioners were
politicians and they were afraid to 60
back TO their homes and face the forces oil
the church should they vote 10 open.
Mr.. Loring rose to his feet and denied
that such was his case. i.
Governor Mccormick said that in Ari,
IONA there was not regularly organized
church; whilst others llatly denied thai
this cause influenced them.
Mr.. Kimball, Of Mem York, followed
with warm speech. He said he was
one Of the most liberal men in the coun,
try. He was uniyersalist, and believed
ali men would be saved, and was Dem
ocrat from Ills toes to his hair, and he
thought that no other man could be more
liberal. Mr.. Donaldson asked him II he
believed in hell. The gentleman replied