St. Landry democrat. (Opelousas, La.) 1878-1894, 1881-06-04
communicated.
The Sunday Law.

AAC SuH1A6y Luz W.
In very recent decision the Supreme
Court of our State have decided that
the act of the legislature, which gave
to police juries the right to pass ordi-
nances prohibiting the sale of intoxi-
eating liquors on Sundays unconstitu-
tional. The distinguished bench which
adorned our judiciary and the immc-
date predecessors Of the present court
in interpreting the same act of the
legislature in carefully prepared
opinion, and with perfect unanmity,
declared that the same was constitu-
tional and could be enforced. The
manifest benefits which have resulted in
consequence of the rendition of that
opinion, have been felt in all those
parishes where the police juries have
acted in obedience to the act of the
legislature, and passed such ordinances
as would secure rest and quietness,
tranquility and order upon that day,
which, according to the custom of
nearly all the whole civilized world is
set apart as day of rest. Therefore,
upon this day, it was peculiarly neces-
sary to pass law, the tendency Of
which would be to restrain that license,
which the masses of the people would
be SO apt to indulge in after the labors
of the past week and thus it happened
that previous to the passage of our
Sunday law scarcely Sunday passed
without the occurrence of some tragedy.
Every country grog shop and every
village coffee house would throw wide
open their portals of distinction, in
viting the unwary to partake Of the
poisonous beverages, which were so
freely dispensed from their death
dealing counters, and in this way many
unfortunate persons who sprang from
their beds upon the Sabbath morning
without the slightest intention of doing
any thing wrong, in riding around
seeking rest and pleasure of an inno-
cent character, would chance to pass
one of these treacherous places, and
yielding to momentary weakness,
would he induced to stop and take a
drink, another would soon fellow, and a
third would quickly be taken, and the
result would be that before the sun had
disappeared some fearful tragedy has
occurred at that country store and
perhaps the unwary visitor was left to
survive the rashness of some act,
caused by an over indulgence in that
liquid, which is the main cause of nine
tenths Of the evils that happen to man.
Let us then compare the effect Of the
two decisions, the one rendered by the
Manning court, composed in addition to
the learned chief justice himself, of
such jurists as Spencer, Egan, Deblanc
and MARI, all Of whom were recognized
leaders of the Louisiana bar. Their
opinion was rendered without descent
ing voice, and their Interpretation met
with the approval Of every intelligent
and law abiding citizen, and gave
promise Of better days which would
inevitably follow the inauguration OF
such wholesome law.
On the other hand we have the oppos.
ing decision of the present bench, over
ruling the decision Of their predecessors
Without expressing any opinion as te
the legal correctness of the one or the
other of the two Judgments we will with
out hesitation affirm that vast ma
jority of our people were better satisfied
with the opinion which will Away
reflect honor upon that learned ant
able tribunal, composed of chief justice
Manning and his associates.
The only way in which we can comba
the effects Of the decision recently rem
dered, is by an expression Of the senti
ment of our good people.
Let us get up temperance societies
and prove that the moral worth Of ou
communities are opposed to the viola
ton of that law, which has been pro
uounced by one court to be constitu
tional and by another to be unconstitu
tional.
If we can do no better let us at leas
keep the matter alive until the meeting
Of our legislature, when it is to b
hoped another law will be passed whicl
can bear the scrutiny of any court.