Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1882-03-24
AN ADDRESS.
Ministers ard other Citizens to the Mayor
and other Officers in San Francisco.

Ministers ard other Citizens to the Mayor
and other Officers in San Francisco
The following is the full text of the address
of the San Francisco ministers and citizens
favoring the Sunday law, on the occasion of
theiE recent visit to the Mayor, Chief of Police
and the Prosecuting Attorney of San Fran
cisco:
Mr. Mayor and Gentlemen Much effort has been
and is bsing put forth TO make the impression that
the statute known the Sunday " is an unjust
an odous measure, impossible OF eCfor cement We
believe that there exists organization, lesgue
whose avowed purpose is to embarrass and defeat
the enforcement OF the law. Such a conspiracy is
hundred times more audacious, and, If not promptly
and vigorously met, thousand times more danger
eus than the Illicit dstillers in the mountains OF
Tennessee and North Carolina. Thus far this trea
sOnable organization has had little less than an
challenged career, insomuch that the unthinking
have been deuded into the belief that its ostenta
tiously- paraded statements contain substance
of truth. Doubtless many Of tae conspiracy in
question have been cajoled into the league under
great u1iutellgence to the turptude Of the crime
contemplated and the magnitude Of the danger in
volved In the di5loyal experiment
For these reasons, and all others which ought to
modify the action of loyal citizens, we have deemed
it eXpedent to assure you, the executive officers OF
the city, and through you all whom it may concern,
that there is a large and determined majority of
tax-payiug citizens who desire and expect the en-
forcement OF the law.
1t is settled, as matter OF scienc: and experience
that all laborers, all members of the employed
classes, all workers with nerve and brain, must
enoy one day OF rest in seven, in ord to preserve
physical, mental and moral health The eonyeu-
isace 81 business, the harmony OF the Industries
the tr itions Of the nation the lessons of our his
tory, the Iecognitions of constitutional and common
and statute law, the good order of society," the do
mestic quiet necessary to the full enjoyment of the
benefits Of the day, the structural plan of the Amer
can Government, and the sugS estions of comprehen-
slve craftsmanship under it, point to the high expe-
dency of designating one and the same day for the
whole people. The day commonly called Sunday
is the only day on which it would be possible to fix
with a approach to broad and intelligent agree
ment Il has been cohspicuously recognized
throughout entire history by Constitutions, Leg
islatures and Courts. 1t is interviewer with the
whole order Of national life, and could not be
substituted without measureess confusion and loss
Other Sabbaths days Of religious observance by
comparatively small numbers, and have no da.e val
commercial and legal significance In the gen.
eral system. The law does not forbid any man to
rest any other day, nor does it forbid him to
work on Sunday. SO far, every man may satisfy his
conscience and follow his bent. With designated
exceptions, 1t very properly forbids him to keep
open any place Of business, or to compel or require
others to work, or any place OF mercenary tempta-
ton to lure the weak and unwary into wsstefu ex-
penditures and into which dsquiet the day
and defeat the intent OF the law.
IT, then, the civil Sabbath must Of general neces-
sty be one day. and that day Sunday, every dictate
OF prudence and manhood government suggests that
the aborer's rest day should be for health, home
life, and mental and domestic improvement; free
alike from the exac ions of capital, the expressions
Of power and the demoralizing solicitations of Gu
pdity No attempt is made to compel men to
ship to keep the sabbath religicusly, but only
qure them to be just to the profoundest needs Of
human nature in the relations OF industrial do
nestle and civil life 1t cannot be but that every
vrtuous calling and every industry demaaded by
authentic civilization will be advantaged by the
operation ef the law. Ii there is any occupation
which cannot tolerate such law that occupation
must be at with the best interests of society.
Such in brief, are the character and objects Ct
the Sunday law. To as ume that it cannot be en-
forced is to confess weakness disreputable TO the
government and damaging TO the reputation of the
city and the State To refuse to enforce il is to in
yite Reorganization and anarchy Sunday will be
exceptionally day OF dissipation, domestic misery
and public crime, OF except onaly day OF personal
sobriety, domes ic comfort and public quiet. Which
it shai be will now depend the supineness or
vigor, the cowaldice or courage, the perjury or
fidelity of the functionares charged with the execu
ton of the law.
without consuming time with argument, we
isten to assure you, Fir, and gentlemen, OF our
shaken confidence in the ability and official integ
rIty OF the executive officers this city; and
through you to say to all parties in interest that
there is large, calm and determined constituency
who not only desire the enforcement Of the law but
resolved to do what they may in every legitimate
way TO defeat the Vaccinations Of rebellion, and
prevent such triumph OF conspiracy as woud blast
the good name Of the city, and menace every law by
which our liberties are guarded and every right
we hold dear We represent. directly, say fifty
churches, with large citizen membership, everyone
OF whom is lawabiding and-in case of need
may be relied upoa as lew. enforcing. Outside Of
this circle, which is unpotentia only Ia the fancy of
the uniformed, is another, composed Of many
hundreds OF pledged temperance men in single
order whose past activity is presage of their future
energy. Outside of this is a large number Of men,
bers OF other organic tons, too intelligent to be de-
ceived by false cry, and too patriotic to stand
supineiy by and see the guarantees of liberty inso
enty trampled under foot in the purblind interest
OF few whose gains depend on the amount of
misery they create. Outside Of all these there
is still larger constituency OF sober industrious
citizens, augmented by multitude who have felt
the power Of appetite or sufT3red indirectly the
scorchings of the fire, and therefore wish
temptation from the purvisw Of their rest-day
rambles, who viii answer to any call the civil gos
eminent may make upon them for maintaining the
supremacy Of law. Outside Of all these is great
assemblage of wives, children, mothers Of endan-
gerei sons and sisters Of imperied brothers, whose
rights as sacred as though they were able to
defend them by bayonet and ballot These must
be considered in any comprehensive measure Of
legislation for the public good.
Thus far this vast constituency has calmly waited
for the decision of the highest Court The camnes5
Of their courage may have emboldened the demora-
zers into the notion that the opp son to their dis
organizing purposes would be timid and temporary
We are that you, Mr.. Mayor and gentlemen, do
not labor under such msapprehension- We there
fore mske these deibe ate statements much more in
the hope Of undeceiving the victims Of ns;esching
than to intimate TO the executive officers OF the
municipal government the grave importance OF
promptly and vigorously dischargipg the functions
which they are sworn to perform, and which have
been insoently sci at defiance.
For ourselves-H you will indulge us yet q mo-
mcpt we try to keep the Sabbath in Christian
way But in pleading for civil Sabbath, we speak
only as citizens, conceding all the rights claim,
and claiming all that we concede. Clearly reeog-
MIXING the fact that people endowed with the bal
lot and the right Of private and public discussion
can have no valid reason 1cr rebellion, we are &C.