The Donaldsonville chief. [volume] (Donaldsonville, La.) 1871-current, 1880-07-03
TlD SUNDAY Closing Question.

IT, SUNDAY Closing Question.
- Measure l,ssended o. Moral .ssa Legal
Grounds Isul1aozing Deprecated--A
Few Pertinent suggestion g the
| PeopIs of #DonaldsonvIlle.
EDIroR UnIEf
was III Donaldsonville few days
go and became then aware for the first
time q the excitement prevailing among
some Of its citizeas On the subject Of the
Sunday Laws.
To few who ere opposed TO the Police
Jury ordinance are making great rack
q, but ~ persuaded that if put to the
voAe the law would be sustained even III
tie town. do not reside in Donaldson
vile and nm not q member of the Police
Jury, hence neither local prejudice or
pritis Of o1ice influence me, and / believe
that / an able to judge Of the situation
with entire impartiality and perfect
eqnanimity.
was told while in Donaldsonville
that those who favored the law kept
their own counsel, less they subject
themselves to insults from the aggressive
anti-Sunday law men. can hardly be-
lieve that III this community any one
would be maltreated on account Of his
opinion about simple law. / honestly
believe the law to be good law, q moral
law, and one which prevails oil over the
Union and which affords to hard worked
employees one day Of rest in the week.
The courts throughout the country
have maintained. the constitutionality Of
the Sunday law, and it is all bosh for any
one to say that it restraints personal free
dom. No one could ride or drive furious
II, fire off gun Or pistol, answer call Of
nature, etc, in the streets Of Donaldson
vile with impnnity. Those who raise
such cry against the law would be the
first to kick were they compelled to re-
main at home and work Of u Sunday.
But as they do not labor on that day and
desire to enjoy their license to its fullest
extent, other people must hop around
counters measuring calicoes and weigh
ing lard for them. Barkeepers who very
likely have sat up to midnight on Satur-
day must ON Sunday mix cocktails and
smaslles for the delectation of the oilers.
Next, ! believe most firmly that State
law has authorized the Police Jury to
extend the law over the incorporated
limits Of the town. Donaldsonville forms
part Of the parish of Ascension. Its char
ter simply granted it certain privileges.
Let US admit that among those privileges
was the one Of exclusive legislation in
regard to Snday laws. What then Why
simply that the power which originally
granted the privilege has now restricted
it. The town must submit to this altera-
ton Of its charter or repudiate the char
ter altogether and return to the mother
parish. She will, no doubt, take good
care Of the people Of Dona!dsonville.
Was not the bayou ferry granted to
the town and were not its revenues,
amounting to some $500 year, donated
to IN individual The power Qegisla-
tive) which granted the ferry annulled
the grant. Let us be calm about this
matter. The world will not come to an
end because the shops will be closed in
Donaldsonville on Sundays. The Gus
toners money will find its way into the
traders pockets on other days just as
well.
We are progressing i'll America. Pub
lie policy demands that no one should he
forced to labor on Sundays, and Donald
sonville mnst keep step to the onward
march. She can not shape public opin-
ion, and must not keep open shops in de-
fiance Of it and Of law.
We're that little town to be trans
planted into the interior of Africa it
might be permitted to practice cannihal-
ism, crocodile worship, voudouism and
kous kous eating, but these can not be
tolerated here.
| hear that the Police Jury has been
petitioned to repeal or modify the law.
/ hope it will do neither. The question
is now before hhe courts and let it be
there definitely decided. Otherwise, an
other jury may on some other occasion
pass another Sunday law and we will be
again pestered with another storm in
tea pot. Let us. settle the matter now
and be ever rid of it.
The people Of Donaldsonville should
contain themselves and await the result
with parliamentary, with almost sure
hope Of success. They employed counsel
to espouse their cause, their town author
tiles have come to their aid and protec-
ton by injunction and by attempting to
imprison the District Attorney for en-
forcing the law, and their Judge who is
to try the pending case has guaranteed
them beforehand the success of the issue.
Verify, verify, things and men will have
to be called by their right names soon.
SALAAM.
Reeds Gilt Edge Tonic prevents mala-
ria.
A piece Of very nice pound cake was
sent to the CHIEF office yesterday, and
upon the paper containing the toothsome
sample was written: Compliments
Hancock Merry Club; from hop Of Thurs
day night at Mrs. Mayors" As will lie
inferred, the members Of the Hancock