The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1880-01-23
SUNDAY REFORM.
what u Minister Has 10 Say On the Sub
ject.
WHEELING, January 90.

WHEELING, January %.
EIltors IntsllISOncer.
In your issue Of yesterday appeared a
petition asking Council not TO grant the
request to be made by large number oil
citizens for city ordinanc similar to the
State law, relating to work on Sunday
That petition is open to some criticism
which ought to be made publicly. First,
the reference in it to the ministers OF this
city are, to use mild terms, improper and
unjust. The ministers are citizens, tax.
PAYERS, and some OF them property own.
ers, and as such have a perfect right to
present any respectful petition to Council.
TO single out any class OF citizens and ex-
press, publicly, disapprobatiOn because
they have united with others in q respect.
| full petition is an "un.American" act and
might be followed by denial Of the right
OF petition 10 any other class.
Every genuine lover OF American rights
will cheeriully permit every citizen to
avail himself Of the same rights without
Il would be Just as just to say that
every merchant should contlne himself to
his store, every shoemaker should stick
TO his last, as 10 say that every minister
should ''contine himself to the pulpit"
Let this principle be carried out and the
affairs OF our city must be left entirely to
lloaiers-men who have no other occupa.
ton TO which they should con6ne them.
selves.
Moreover, this attempt TO convict the
ministers OF this city OF fault has nothing
whatever to do with the matter now be-
fore the public, EVENT. it could be proved
that the ministers are not merely out OF
their place but all bad men, hypocrites
and oppressors, it would have no kind OF
bearing on the question "Shall we have a
city ordinance protecting men In their
right to rest OH Sunday" 1t would seem
as II what is asked by ministers and other
citizens Is so fair, reasonable and unob-
jectionahle that no good reason can be
imagined why 1t should not be granted,
and hence false issues are manufactured,
references are made to the "Blue Laws OF
Connecticut" (which, by the way, we're
the invention OF Tory for the purpose Of
intensifying British feeling against the
American colonies), and attempts are
made to divert public attention to the
need OF reforming and restraining the in
termeddling ministers.
The second criticism respects the Issue
between the parties represented by the
two petitions. OF this the writer does not
wish TO treat fully, because committee
has been directed to make an official state
ment Of the law we desired TO have passed
and to correct the many misrepresenta-
tions that lave been made. But, having
been identified with the movement from
the beginning, he may correct the false
Impressions conveyed by the petition un-
der review.
No attempt is being made TO put con-
straint on men "as to their way OF observ.
ing the Sabbath" nor is il proposed TO put
a "burden" on any mans shoulders. On
the contrary our simple design is to lift
the burden from some shoulders compelled
to bear it by the two general disregard OF
the State laws, Men are being compelled
to labor on Sunday in increasing mum.
beers, either by their employers, or by
competition, or by an improper and
unfair desire to take advantage
OF those who rest on that
day. One retail dealer in cigars, or candy
can compel all others to open their stores
on Sunday. A little investigation and "iu-
terviewing" will discover many men who
will testify, ~ must work on Sunday or
lose my place, and l don't like it." We
can see no way OF giving relief to these
burdened men but by simple ordinance
forbiddingwork on Sunday and this wayo OF
relief will put no burden on any other
shoulders, for no man deliberately prefers
work to rest on Sunday.
Isthere, then, any occasion for INDUCING
in charges and countercharges? May not
oil classes observe Sabbath still as they
please, or refuse TO observe 1t all2 Except,
Of course, where their mode OF observance
compels men TO labor who have right to
rest, in which case they ought to be will
ing to change their mode.
A MINISTER IN MS PLACE.