The weekly Thibodaux sentinel and journal of the 8th Senatorial District. [volume] (Thibodaux, Lna. [i.e. La.]) 1875-1898, 1877-12-01
The Sunday Law.

to leinaln open untll
II o'clock noon. This is a new
departure in Louisiana. and t.atu-
rally aropses much opposition,
and some bitter feelings. Their"
are Arguments TO bv toun! pro a"l
con. which are freely USED hy the
iisputantS and advocates of the
meaSnre.
In this Parish, petitions calling
lori the enactment OF similar
iaN are in circulation. and it Is
Thought, nnmerorSly signed, to be
presented to the Police Jury, ati'>
NAT session. What action thar
boAS may take in regard TO these
t,eti:ton>, and what may be the
viewsof il majority o. the members
composing that Oody has not
been made known in ally author
lztd manner, but it is to b" hop
ed that they will RECEIVE that con
sheraton walcn petitioners may
expect 10 obtain from tAc Pare
clliai authoriti 5.
A Law OF this nature should
emenate from the Legislature. as
the enforcement OF any lew ca
actments, in Isolated PLACES is 4
difficult matter, ami any lnnova-
ton of ancient cuStUms ShOnld be
carefully iIlauSurated, aad be, at
the same time, general In their
operation.
There is no doubt that the
Police jury hats sutii author
ity granted to it h.y the State
Government to enact such orii-
hanceS, bat the practlbllity of so
doing, ANA subsequently EMERGING
them is another lhing
Are tie people OF LatDurrhe
prepared to maintain aad enforce
snch law, at PRESENT. if they are
then it might might be advisable
to enact one, but If they are not,
then it had best BE- deferred for
the time being, for an attempt to
execute Il law Of than nature,
win h would prove to oe dead
letter on he statute books WUGlti
do more to prevent the objects
desired than amy obituary oppo
sition could accomplish.
The writer Of this article has
has no hesitation in stating dis
tincfly and empilatlcally that he
is favor OF the clo~in. Of all the
piares OF business on the sabbath
day, that tie people nlse an in
iIeleut right III their sovereign
Capacity 10 set apart oar day III
the week tor rest and ql!ef,Wneu
ever lhry so desire : that that pre-
negative Is one that Is nE0ues
toned, aud beyond cavl', ttiat
ttey have a sovereign power e
enact and enforce laws tilaG will
put Il stop to tne briwiilg, dis
seuSions, and shameful scenes
that exhibited in various neigh
borhoods in this Parish on sun,
day. But that Is Il power which
the people THEMSELVES must deter
mine to exercise, before It should
he attempted. Whilst Il large
MASS Vi the cltlZenS Of L%afourcut
unite III denonclug such conn.llcl
they are nor tlongnt 10 be dlspO-
ed to enforce ii Sunday Law ~
this time, aud until they are edu
Gated To that point 1t would Or
unWi>e to attempt TO enforce en-
aciments tnat would not DE Il
talued by the majority OF the III,
habltautS.
Il is an OLD saying that "Ron4
WAS no. built in one day" an
adage that al be adapted tC
thesunday llw enactulent. Thirty
years ago. all men WHO are titty
years of age remember, SANTA.
WAS tie principal business DAY IN
lower Louisiana, Oh Which uay
most Oh the purchasing aid sci
ing OF So0iS Hnu chajie.S, and
Settlements concerning business
matters. were made ana cUmlplet-
ed. Now one half OF the merchants
DO not open their stores on the
Sabbath but little bushes, is
done on thar day, OF any kind,
Tie people are being educlted to
regard those who continue to car
ry Oh their respective business.
as being engaged il what is in.
tr'nsicaliy wong, i'll violation OF
good souni uora.ity, aud hostile
to the virtue aud religion OF the
Bible.
Let this education continue,
aud ere may years vii! pass away
the Object "aslre! will De obtain
ed by the determined effort OF ID,
large majority OF the people who
Will sustain and enforce il, aut:
until that period arrives ak law
on the subject would prove to be
q dead letter.