Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1882-09-06

such a step and the Democratic position
there may be distinction, but there is
no difference. So far as the interests of
the public are concerned it does not in the
least signify whether the present Sunday
laws are repealed or maintained. To re-
peal them would only be to throw away
useless rubbish. To maintain them is
only to preserve useless rubbish. 1t may
indeed be inferred that both the parties
have in effect committed themselves
against the kind of legislation which was
demanded in the interest of good morals,
for while the Democracy ia by implication
opposed to all legislation having for its
object the better establishment of the Sun
day holiday, the Republicans, by pledging
themselves to retain ineffective lava upon
the statute book, have practically refused
to urge effective ones.
What was proposed, and widely sane.
toned by public opinion, was very diff.
ferent kind of plank to that which the
Republican Convention has adopted. 1t
was shown that there must be new legisla.
ton; that it was quite useless TO depend
upon the existing laws and that what
was wanted was an emphatic declaration
on behalf of such Sunday law as would
secure the seventh-day holiday to the
working classes, and prevent all encroach.
ments upon it under any pretense what.
ever. This is what the Convention was
wisely counseled to do. Had it done this
it would have secured the active and Ell.
thusiastic support of the best elements in
the community. And it had nothing to
lose on the other hand. For the elements
which were opposed to the protection of
the poor mans Sunday are Democratic
elements, and they would not in any case
have voted the Republican ticket. But
the purblind, cowardly and shallow poll
ticians who drafted the Republican plat.
form had not the sagacity to perceive this,
and 80 for fear Of offending Democrats
they adopted an evasive and meaningless
resolution, which will estrange from them
the most useful elements in their own
party, and will deprive the campaign of
that enthusiasm it SO greatly feeds.
No man VINO has convictions on this
Sunday question can be deceived for an in.
slant by the Republican platform. So far
as its significance goes, it is in no way pref.
prahla 70 that ~ ha T.. f..
the only class that has any reason to be
satisfied with it is that which always trains
with the Democrats, and which now has
the pleasure of rejecting that it has moth
ing to apprehend whichever party wins the
victory at the polls. The decent ele.
| meuts. however, have been hypocritically
abandoned. 1t seems to have bee q thought
that they had not sense enough to know
when they were betrayed, and hat they
could be csjoled into believing that the
plank adopted is all they had right to ex-
pect. They were credited with ess intel.
ligence than their antagonists, in fact, and
here another serious blunder WIS made.
We confess that we do not see why the
saloon organizations should not bs pleased
win publican Sunday law plank, for
it coulde eave been more favorable to
them index the circumstances. They
surely were not silly enough to suppose
that Republican Convention would offer
them even better terms than the Democrats
had. They certainly ought to be con-
tented when they know that they have se.
cured virtually as good terms as tie Demo-
Gratis gave them. The opposing elements,
however, have every reason to be dissatis-
fed, and it is impossible either 10 blame
their disaffection, or to adjure them to
come forward and interest themselves
heartily for the success of the platform by
which they have been betrayed and
snubbed
The Republican politicians have lnade the
usual kind OF mess by trying to carry water
on both shoulders, and this is always the
danger most to be dreaded when men who
possess no convictions themselves under.
take to make platforms dealing with sub.
jects which have elected real convictions
among the people. TIE outcome is that
there exists no issue on the Sunday ques-
ton between the Republican and Demo.
cratic parties, and voters will as a matter
of course perceive that this is SO. The Re-
publican press and speakers are estopped
IRON claiming any superiority on this
topic, for they occupy precisely the same
position as their opponents upon it. 1t
may as well be understood at once that SO
tar as the two parties are concerned the
next legislature cannot be expected to do
anything towards protecting the DOR mans
sunday holiday. All talk on the stump
to the contrary may be set down as mere
"buncombe. The Sunday law issue has
been shamefully eyaded by the Republican
Convention. That is the plain truth
of the situation. The politicians
have indirectly affirmed that they
care more for the votes of the anti
Sunday elements than for those of the
pro'Sunday elements. They have made no
concessions to the latter, but large con.
cessions to the former. In return for these
favors no doubt the anti-Sundsy ele.
menss will almost to man vote the Demo.
cratic ticket. This is fair example of the
kind and degree of craftsmanship and
sincerity which went to the framing of
the Republican platform. It is very mach
to be regretted that tie party should have
fallen into such bad hands, but there is no
help for II new, and those who hoped that
they would be giveu clesr, manly, suffi.
Gent Sunday plank, must put up with their
disappointment as best they can. Tn.
fortunately they can aot, as the case stands.
do better by going fsrther-unless indeed
they should prefer t,,formulate their views
and support their convictions by independ.
emit action.