The Donaldsonville chief. [volume] (Donaldsonville, La.) 1871-current, 1881-08-06
Chips from the Capital.
Baton Rouge Metllodists Exercised over
sunday ExcufsiOn-Arflval Of the FIRST
Passenger Train-Death Of an Esteemed
Young Lady.

BATON ROUGE, August 3, 1881.
EDITOR CHIEF:
II is sometimes the case that we don't
know which from t'otller or t'other from
which. We are often immensely per
suadet it is which, and then q reversion
of sentiment counteracts the impression
and we firmly assert it is t'other: Thus
events transpire, call forth our attention
and demand our considerations Some
months ago Sunday law was passed
and attempted to be enforced i'll this
city. The idea was to have one day in
each week to rest from labor and to
moralize and christianize our heather
population. Tho intentions were good
on the part of the advocates of the law.
They didn't think that any reasonable
person would object to q little moral and
christian baptising. But it didn't set
very well on the minds Of the heatlens.
They bucked against it. It was too much
like immersion, and u larger portion Of
our population were partial to sprink-
ling. There was a good deal of 6 cuss
ing" and discussing about it, and finally
it got into the courts, and the courts
decided that our parish supervisors bad
no right to make such q law and pro-
hibit tho hcathcns, or brethren either,
from kissing their wives, smoking Gig
ars, drinking good whiskcy, going to
church, riding in buggies, eating apple
dumplin's, dancing the heel and toe, or
hngging their sweethearts OH Sunday.
To prohibit by law the performance of
these blessed privileges was an abroga-
ton Of the long established customs of
the people. Observation-Disclosures and
contrary to the Chill Of fare" It was
nullfcation," undcmocratic and non est
republqne. They couldn't, shouldn't nor
wouldn't stood it. When these things
were entered, passed and raised, we all
kinder harmonized again and began to
sorter reach over and shake hands. The
chasm was pretty wide and we had to bend
over immensely in order to reach. But
We "rotchcd and all got happy again.
Things moved on amazingly for 4 time.
The schools had their exhibitions and
hops, and the young folks had their
emotional spells i'll parting-it was sym
pathctic-touclcd the tender chords, and
d feeling Of mutual kindness was engen-
dered between the brethren and heath
ems. just at the moment when we an
ticipated the great millennium-"pe peace
on earth and good will to man ut was
announced that the Louisiana Division
Of the Army Of Tennessee was to make
an excursion from New Orleans to the
restored capitol, in honor Of it, the COM
pletion of the railroad to Baton Rouge, a
compliment to our citizens and to give a
concert to raise funds to aid in erecting
monument to the memory of their heroic
dead, on Sunday, the 9TH day of August,
1881. Sunday, tho 9TH Of August, was the
day named by tho Society because it
was the only day which its members
could have from business obligations.
Would you call this sacrilege1 Would
you pronounce it a dissertation of tho
Sabbath ! The only day in the week
when they arc free from business cares
to engage in peaceful recreation and
happy reunion and the more holy pur-
pose of raising funds to erect !. lnonu-
mont to perpctuatc the memory and
deeds Of their fallen comrades Whose
noble son, whose devoted father, whose
loving husband, whose darling brother,
whose ;iffianced lover, laid down his life,
sacrifice upon the alter of his country,
to maintain a principle which he be-
lievcd to be just and holy? Must these
surviving heroes repu'liato the principles
for which they struggled and cease to
remember their comrades on the Sabbath
day III order to conform to the dictates
Of religious fanaticism, puritanism and
intolerance The hcatllens were going
too far! 1t was an insult to the dignity
of some of the members of the Methodist
church and hence strong article fpro-
test WAS published in the 1drocate and Il
protes t-petition was gotten up and for
warled to the Association of the LOUISE
ana Division Of the Army Of Tennessee
protesting against their paying visit
to our city OH Sunday, protesting against
their Confederate comrades firing salutcs
III honor of their coming OH the first cx-
cnrson Oh the now railroad just COM
plcted, protesting against their effort to
raise funds to build their monument, as
sertlng, as it were, that the christian
community would suffer an irreparable
injury, claiming that they represent 1900
souls when they cannot make showing
for more than onc-third Of that number
opposed to it out Of a population of over
eight thousand. The Catholic religion
III Baton Rouge represents more than two
thirds of the entire religious community
and they are all in favor of a generous
reception of the Confederate boys. See
the difference in religious ]iLerality !
Onr fanatical brethren are not like the
COW which kicks one leg out behind and
gives the foot an agnc shake, bnt they
buck, rear up, and come back with both
heels like u mule. 9 1t is kick what
am kick.'
This is an unfortunate step taken by
our conscientious brethren and W ill
do that church an injury which years