Louisiana capitolian. (Baton Rouge, La.) 1879-1881, 1881-08-04
"CITIzEN" MORALIzEs.

protest. under the mask which still
conceals his individuality.
If we knew who the writer is we
could adapt our language more fit
tingly. AS it is we have to strike at
a domino, which may as we'll hide a
Minister Of the Gospel as layman.
Our vizor is raised; his is closed.
Hence we are at disadvantage.
If "Citizen'' is a minister Of the Cos
pei, his congregation and the mass of
the people who, like us, hold such
in due reverence, will say amen to his
conclusions and condemn us for any
slip of the pen we may make.
As "Citizen' announces that he
makes no personal fight, we will
strive to refrain from expressing any
thingwhich mightsavorof personality.
"Citizen" devotes much space In
telling his readers something which is
not very new, that the Constitutions
OF the ,'nited States and of the States
recognize the existence of a Supreme
Deity or Ruler of men, and that the
Atheist is not competent witness
before our courts, because he has no
God OF Bible to swear by.
We can't see what his application
has to do with the question at issue.
We know that almost every man
who does not wish to spread a funeral
pail over the Sabbath is a believer in
the same Bible which Citizen con-
strues according to his judgment and
intelligence and has the presumption
to lay down to other christians and
the world, as the only true inter
probation, and therefore, the moral
lac, which should govern this and
other communities.
Though we wish to avoid a theOlO-
gical discussion, as such subject is
not properly within our province, we
charge Citizen with presumption
in this that he virtually tells the
Catholics, through whom the Bible
has been transmitted to christianity !,
that they misrepresent and miscon
strue its teachings in the matter ofthe
observance of the Sabbath day.
He likewise makes the same charge
against the Protestants of Germany
and of the old continent who, like the
Catholics, see no sin, in enjoying
themselves on Sunday after they have
attended to their religious duties.
Hence, the charity which such
champion of christianity ought to
exhibit sinks, in this instance, into
glazing presumption and arrogance.
Again, he says that he protests "ln
the name of uery best and purest men
and wonderland of the children Of
the God, fearing parents of our city"
This startling assertion might be
considered an insult to the address of
the liberal thinking Protestants, the
Catholics, the Israelites and other
good people of this community, who
are in equal proportion in every way
as good and rs pure as those to whom
"Citizen" alludes. The assertion,
carrying as it does its own denial,
we do not deem it necessary to enter
it for those at whom it is aimed.
"Citizen" would have us believe
that cannon firing and a cbaste con-
cert are dissertation of the Sabbath !;
and he compares these with gam
bling on the streets or cock fighting.
If the latter practices are sinful,
they are so on week days as we'll as
on Sunday.
We know that cannon firing and
concerts are not sins on week days.
By whose authority are they made
Sc on Sunday?
Not by the God of Israel not by
the God of the Catholics of the world
not by the God of the Protestants of
Germany. Switzerland and other
countries of the Old Continent; not
by the God of the liberal thinking
Protestants of the United States!
Would Citizen" have us be guided
by the puritanical ideas which the
pilgrim fathers have insidiously in
filtered throughout this country
Why, year before last, at Pixies