Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1882-08-25
A LIVING ISSUE.

made by politicians. but on the contrary ia
beng forced upon them by public opinion.
And the reason Of this movement is plain
enough. 1t is at once perceived that the
Democracy have taken position the popu.
lar Endorsement Of which would involve a
condemnation of ii. Sunday holiday, and
would invite such aggression upon and in.
vasion OF it as must end in its abolition.
Ii IS not necessary to assume that the
Democratic Convention had this object
expressly before it when it adopted the
Sunday plank, though it is no doubt the
case that many Of the delegates desired |
nothing less. But the logic of the situation
Is clear. The issue is made between Sun.
day and no Sunday, and already the more
candid Democratic candidates and speakers
are frankly admitting this to be the ques
ton. AS the campaign progresses the con-
hict will inevitably separate the two par
ties more widely, and the faction which |
opposes all Sunday legislation will be
driven more and more to rely upon the
elements which have distinct interest in |
abolishing the rest day.
Under the circumstances all the influences
which belong to the higher civilization
must in self-defense range themselves on
the side of the party which takes position
in defense of the Sunday holiday. For it
cannot be seriously doubted that if the
Democrats should win the coming election
they will be controlled on this issue by
those elements whose alliance they now
wish to conceal, and that they will thus
be forced to consent to policy which
many OF the more conservative among
them may deplore and deprecate. This is
the most grave danger of the situation,
and it is that which makes it necessary for
ali clearsighted men to unite with the Re.
publican party on thisquestion. Fortunately
the issue has been presented in such form
that there is no opportunity for the display
OF any fanaticism in connection with it.
1t is not question whether "blue laws"
shall be enacted; whether the citizen shall
tions; whether he shall be compelled to
religious observances in which he NAV not
believe. 1t is simply question whether
Sunday shall be set apart for the free and
unrestrained use and enjoyment of the
people whether it shall continue to be
their own holiday, to he used as they see
nit; or whether under the pretence of en-.
larging his liberties, this day of rest and
refreshment shall be taken away from the
! poor man.
The opponents of the free Sunday say
that the existing Sunday law has not
proved effective, and has been dead let.
ter. That is true, and for that reason it is
proposed that Sunday law be enacted
which shall not bea dead letter. The way
to secure law which can be operated is to
consult public sentiment. No law can
ever be put in force which is opposed to
sthe prevailing belief of the people. But
THE people of this State are not and never
ehave been opposed to the maintenance of a
Sunday holiday. The present difference
between the Democracy and the Republi.
cans is as follows: The Democrats say
t' The present Sunday law has proved
q failure; therefore we will have no Sun.
day legislation" The Republicans say
The present law has failed; therefore
we will enact law more in harmony
with popular sentiment. The Demo.
gratis propose to take away every prop
from the Sunday holiday. The Repub.
kposs to guard that holiday SO
1 effscsau cannot be invaded.
/ Aud this is snphaticA J . podll y
Issue. For let the protection and safe.
guards of Sunday once be removed, and
there will be nothing to prevent the con.
version of the day into working.day.
! Capital, it is said in season and out of
season, is selfish. If that be the case,
how can the working classes afford to put
themselves in the power of Capital, with.
ouS any recourse Such invasions as we
speak of occur in very iusidious way.
They are preceded by no conventions or
organizations or resolutions. One or two
firms perhaps give out that they desire
their hands to work on Sunday, for short
'arne. II the men refuse it ia easy TO find
others who will not. Then the "short
time becomes permanent practice, and
the thin end of the wedge having been in
serted, in little while the tendency sets
that way, and almost before one is aware
OF 1t a radical change has taken place
And the working classes cannot protect
themselves against movements of this kind
II they have no statutory Defense 1t is in
vain for them to stand out against the new
practice. The employers can find more
doeile men, and they must yield or lose
their places. That has been the history of |
many similar changes, and no thinking |
man or woman can doubt that the same |
causes would produce the same effects here. |
There is in fact no guarantee against
the abolition of the Sunday holiday but in
the law, and the Democrats are pledged |
to repeal and oppose all protective Sunday
legislation. The uneasiness which their
press manifests over this question further
demonstrates that they have not failed to
grasp the full significance of their own DO.
sitlon. They see what is involved in it,
and they are so incapable of making a
valid defense of their platform that they
resort to all kinds of subterfuges to blind
and deceive their readers. But the people
cannot be hoodwinked. It is they, and
not the politicians, who are impressing the
Sunday issue upon every county conven.
ton, and electing delegates to the State
Convention who will come to Sacramento
resolved to make this the main considera.
ton in the Republican platform. The
people have more insight than partisan
journals and scheming politicians give
them credit for. They can sometimes dis.
tinguish clearly enough between true and
false issues, and they have done so in the
present instance. They know that the
Sunday question is a vital one. and they
are resolved that it shall neither be ignored
nor Juggled with. That is the meaning of
the resolutions which so many of the
county conventions have already adopted
on this head.
A NATIONAL PRoHIBIrIoH CONVENTION.