Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1882-07-06

VI WIG piaSlOlHl dutilOllLSLlNGll IL SdL /
90 only read them and Judge of them as any
citizen can. 1t finds in the resolution !
a. referred to plain declaration against
sumptuary laws, and, by implication,
against the Sunday law" This, how
ever, is quite enough The Examiner thus
takes the position, first, that the Demo.
cratic platform is committed against the
Sunday law; and second, that there is
nothing Objectionable in this position. As
the Examiner claims to be, and is generally
admitted to be, the leading organ of the
Democracy in this State, its definition of
the Sunday law plank may fairly be as
sumed to be that which its party will
stand by.
We are therefore given to understand
that the California Democracy is pledged
to the repeal of the Sunday law, and that
the party accepts this position as alto
gether unobjectionable. OF course it is
nothing to the purpose that the Examiner
processes regard for the religious observ-
ance of Sunday. 1t . the platform of the
party by which it must be judged, and the
only question OF Importance for voters is,
whether, in voting the Democratic ticket,
they will be committing themselves in
favor of the abolition of Sunday. For this
is what the Democratic position involves,
and nothing less. The platform does not
declare in favor Of securing day of rest to
every man, woman and child in the State
All it does declare for is the repeal of the
present Sunday law. 1t is destructive
not constructive. 1t does not promise to
protect the workingmen in the possession
and enjoyment of a day OF rest. All it
promises is to take away the barrier which
alone prevents Sunday from being turned
into a working day. Democratic journals
and speakers, alarmed at the impression
created by their platform, will no doubt
do their best in the way of afterthought
to persuade the public that they are in
favor OF the preservation of the Sunday.
But they cannot get over the stubborn
fact that there is nothing to that effect in
the official declarations of their party pro-
gramme, nor can they by any such rep
resentations offset the obvious truth that
every vote cast for their ticket will be in
effect vote against the maintenance of
the Sunday holiday.
They chose this issue deliberately.
They thought their view of it was popular
And now that they have taken their side
they will have to stand by it. 1t is per-
fectly clear that no member of the Legis-
ture elected upon their platform will be
under any obligations to support any kind
of Sunday law. 1t is equally clear that
every member of the Legislature elected
upon their platform will be in position to
claim that he is pledged to vote against
all Sunday legislation. The platform
consequently means and implies the abso-
lutte removal of all legislation in regard to
Sunday. That is the Democratic position,
and we assert that it is a position most
emphatically against public policy, and
| specially hostile to the interests of the
working classes which is to say, the ma
jority of the people. The removal of all
legislation on this subject involves the ex.
tinction of the rest day altogether. 1t
means the turning Of Sunday into work.
ing day. 1t means the increase of the
| burdens borne by Labor. 1t means the bru-
talizing Of the masses. 1t means the de.
privation OF all opportunities for amuse-
ment, and social enjoyment, and change of
scene, and intellectual growth. And this
is the inducement the Democratic party
holds out to the voters of California, for
their support and Endorsement.
The Democratic programme is the most
insidious and dangerous, from a popular
standpoint, that could have been devised. |
Hitherto the law has served, even when |
it has been little more than dead letter,
to emphasize and give force to public Gus.
tom and opinion. 1t has at least prevented |
the selfish and greedy few from compelling
the many to employ Sunday as a working
day. 1t is not a wise or an effective law,
In attempting to 10 toe much it has failed. |
But it does not follow because it needs
amendment that we should be better off |
without any Sunday legislation. The
Democrats in effect cay : Because the
"present law is unsatisfactory we will do
away with all laws upon the subject"
The Republicans, if they are wise, will say
on the other hand 1.-THE present law is
defective, and must be amended. But
there is need for law on this subject,
and we propose to enact one which will
inject the views OF the people. We will
"give them a law the main object of
(Which shall be to secure to every one
"the right to one day of rest in seven.
eve will not copy the errors of the pres.
/" ent statute. We will not undertake to
:" do by law what public opinion is opposed
"to doing. We will abridge no right of
"the citizen. We will only guard and
"confirm rights"
That is the position which the Republi.
can party is called upon to take. That is
position which meets the views of ninety.
nine out of every hundred voters. For it
is great mistake, as the Democrats will
find, to imagine that there exists any CD.
position to Sunday legislation in this State.
What does exist is the general demand for
a free Sunday. Nobody wants the holiday
abolished. The great majority desire it to
be preserved effectively. The Democrats.
however, are committed to abolition. Thew
have declared in behalf of the repeal of
the present Sunday law, and against any
other Sunday legislation. In doing SO they
have antagonized the interests not alone of
the working classes, but of the great body
of the people. Their stupid attempt to
meet public opinion has resulted in most
grotesque and characteristic blunder. But
they must stand by their platform as they
have made it, and they must go to the
people upon it. 1t declares, as the
Examiner Gays, for the repeal of the Sum-
day law, and the E.caminer itself sees
nothing Objectionable in that programme.
The people of California, we venture to
predict, will not view this question from
the Examiners standpoint.
THE PRESIDENT AND THE IMMIGRA-
TON BILL.
The President has been very much
blamed for refusing to sign the so.called