The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1880-01-26
--; THE sI ~ ouEsrIoN..
A Reply 10 ga MInister In Ills Right
Place"
NU,,,.,, 49,, To,,,,a.,, % .


statement Of our views, we have to copy
the article verbatim and make our remarks
accordingly. The beginning reads: "ln
yourisue yesterday appeared a petition
asking Council not to grant the request to
BIO made by large number Of citizens for
a city ordinance similar to the State law,
relating to work on Sunday. atpetition
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 aud unjust. The
ministers are citizens, taxpayers, and some
OF them property owners, and Gs such
have perfect right to present any respect
full petition to Council. To single out any
class Of citizens and express, publiclyidis;,
approbation because they have united
with others in respectful petition is an
"un.American" act and might be- followed
by "a denial OF the right OF petition 10 any
other class.
Our Reverend Iwodld be justified by
such an assertion, II some OF orr clergy
had not been the only citizens, Taxpayers
and property owners who had too often
made attempts 10 make their power felt by
petitioning council for laws and restric-
lions, TO which majority OF our citizens
felt opposed, but did not go to the trouble
Of openly opposing such movements.
TheiReverend says further: Every gen
uine lover OF American right will cheer.
fully permit every citizen TO avail himself
Of the same rights without prejudice.
II would be Just as just TO sIy that overy
merchant should conline himself 10 his
store every shoemaker should stick 10 his
last, rs TO say that every minister should
"confne himself to the pulpit" Let this
principle be carried out and the affairs Of
our city must be left entirely to loafers--
men who have no other occupation TO
which they should contine themselves.
We are lovers Of American rights and
do not want to convey the idea that every
shoemaker, merchant, etc, should strictly
stick TO his own business, and never med
die with public affairs. Nay, not'at all.
But when they NEEDLE toa much with the
same, aud that against the sentiments Of
the people, they ought to be restricted TO
their own business, and positively hidden
to abstain from everlasting agitations.
This applies more to the clergy than 10
anyone else, taking scripture aud history
into consideration.
The next part OF the article reads:
"NIoreoyer, this attempt TO convict the
ministers OF this city OF fault has nothing
whatever to do with tho matter now be.
fore the public. Even il it could be proved
that the ministers are not merely out Of
their place, but all bad men, hypocrites
rand oppressors, it would have no kind Of
bearing on the question "Shail we have a
city ordinance protecting men in their
right TO rest or SundayY 1t would seem
as il what is asked by ministers aud other
citizens is 70 fair, reasonable and unob-
iectionable that no good reason can be
imagined why IL should not be granted,
and hence false issues are manufactured,
references are made to the Blue Laws OF
Connecticut" (which, by the way, were
the invention OF Tory for the purpose
OF iuiensifying 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 10 treat fully, because committee
has been directed to make an official state
meut OF the law we desired to have passed
and to correct the many misrepresenta-
tons that have been made. But, having
been identified with the movement from
the beginning, he may correct the false
impressions conveyed by the petitions
under review"
The position Of our ministers and the
citizens opposing them are separate, and
cannot be put upon one basis. The for.
mer are the attacking or offensive party,
while the latter are on the defensive side,
which Is always the proper place, and con.
sequently the term tout OF the place" can
not be given 10 them. Theway the mat
ter now stands, the issue ought TO be mar
rowed 10 a question which. will hereafter
stop all disagreeable diversion OF opinion.
Let the men who are chosen by us to make
our laws do their duty, and II they disre-
gard such expel them from Office at the
next election. The last part OF the article
says:
"No attempt is being made to put con-
straint on men as to their way Of observ-
ing the Sabbath nor is it proposed to put
a burden on any mans shoulders. On
the contrary our simple design is 10 lift
The burden from some shoulders COM
PEELED to bear 1t by tho too general disre-
gard Of the State laws. Men are being
compelled to labor on Sunday in increas.
ing numbers, either by their employers,
or by competition, or by an improper and
unfair desire to take advantage OF those
who rest OH that day. 0neretail dealerin
cigars, or candy, can compel all others to
open their stores on Sunday. A little IN
vestigation and interviewing will dis.
cover many men who will testify. Il must
wolk on Sunday or lose my place, aud l
don't like it, We can see no way OF Civ.
ing relief TO these burdened men but b. n
simple ordinance forbiddiug work on Sun
day; and this way OF relief put no bur-
den oh any other shoulders, for no
man deliberate prefers work to rest on
Sunday.
Is there, then, any occasion for indnlg.
ing in charges and counter.charges? May
notall classes observe Sabbath still rs they
please, or refuse to observe it all? Ex.
cept, OF course, where their mode OF OBJ
servanCe compels men to labor who have
right to rest, in which case they ought TO
be willing to change their mode"
The way we understood from the fret
proceeding OF the ministers meeting,
which was published, the Sunday pa.
pers were found Objectionable for being
sold on the Sabbath. Excursions were
also put under the head OF Sabbath dos.
Grafton. Now, we might feel like having
Sunday paper, and also go sometimes
with an excursion. Would the restriction
and abolition OF both not be considered
burden? He says that the main object is
to stop men from doing work on Sunday.
Surprising such 'aw was passed and
strictly enforced, what loss would be caus.
ed thereby to our blast furnaces, glass |
factories, &c. These are the sources that
uphold our city, enable our wofkingmen
10 buy their daily bread, and no honest
workingman would leave them In the
lurch by refusing to work, knowing that