New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1882-12-17
rest. We are not auto ready to make wise

revision; perhaps, however il is as well TO make
it, The extremes on either side cannot be salts
fed. The right Of the Sabbatarians ITO pre-
scribe and enforce what is for mems good will
never be admitted-though it has been publicly
claimed in this city within a week. The best
men in all our churches would take greedily to
violating law that set MP that rule Of private
conduct in the keeping OF sunday On the other
hand, American people are not going to admit
the rule that anY man uQy run his noisy ma
chimes or mock-auctions anywhere and at all
hours of the day assigned for general rest.
All private rights to worship or not to worship,
to keep indoors or to walk abroad, to frequent
The parks or the CHURCHES, to read the Bible OF q
ne yspaper, to 20 ON foot or ride in a hogse-car,
viii lie stoutly maintained. On the ether hand,
there will be strong purpose to limit labor
and commerce to the lines Of necessity.
And just at this point all the practical difficult
ties arise. What is n work Of necessity?
What rights over the general order OF life
has a work of mercyP A work Of mercy we
can understand; but suppose mercy drives
bread cart or runs a railway train : In point OF
fact 10 one has yet been able to define the
boundaries of works of mercy and necessity. 1t
is not, for example, n work Of the strictest ne
cessity to go TO church, all Pr0testant5 agree
that worship at home is lawful and right. No
body can get to church without some kind Of
work. Preparing food for Sunday is not a
WORK of strict nccessity there is plenty Of
proof that we might fast one day Ill the week.
Many other customary things not challenged
by the stricte>t Sabbatafians are something less
Y.
fact than kilograms newspapers, telephones,
streel-cars, public carriages and mail trains.
BY all these mohern Institutions mercy relieves
mankind Of anxiety or suffering; and IN numer-
oHs ways they minister TO human wants. In all
this kind OF work our experience j. yet young,
and We have NOT arrived at mdturcd public
Judgment The present crisis will spur oar
thnhmg on 20 conclusions; the danger is that
tie conclusion may lie TOO liberal. 1t is ridicu-
lGGs 10 anticipate q rel IN ri blue laws IN
New York but we ale ln danger OF losing al
Icgulatiye statutes tor Sunday. i just couctp-
ton of the object of Sunday laws Is that they
are ncohei TO protect laborins men against
demand on them for seven days work each
week To secure \, who shuts up his shop and
lets Els clerks rest, against the competition OF
y, vino adds ouc-s.lth Orb his own p.OIts and
the iaDo, OF his men by Sunday Taaing. If
some manufacturers aud tradesmcn usr the soy
cuth day the rest mass use 10 OF go Gudor Eu-
less w, are prepared To- ouiIc. dcI 10 greed lie
poor mans yes. aul ,le p.oa5 nam. devotion
believing tiat neither Is OF any puonc value
wise statutes ought To secure the stpppage %
all unnecessary work ol Sunday; bu. Inc deli
niton OF necessity must be liberal. Competing
industries ana trades furnish good basis Tor
dcfHuon OF the woods "nccctoity and mercy
furthermore, public worship i- OF such general
utility that to % ought % be seen ell some quiet
hours in each zenith day; and the domain OF
public amuscmeats seem, 30 he large enough
without using Sunday, though no one ought TO
be denied tie pr!yic-e OF intellectual study or
diversion. In lnc, secure the general rest;
protect the quiet OF church hours; shat tao tAe-
aires; opch the libraries.