, 1882-10-13
Let Workingmen Have 0Ee Day S Re, (
Ill ty.nu. r


fast falling into line in opposition to
Sunday laws those of jefferson
county having followed in the wake
of Whatcom democrats in resolving
to support no Legislative candidates
who are not pc ,,ed to the repeal Of
our present Sunday statute. Other
counties will doub less fall into line
unit the question will become a ter
ritorial issue. As yet the republicans
have not taken any decided step one
way OF the other, that we have heard
Of; and very little has been said by
the Republican papers of the terrific
ry on the subject, beyond the expires
sion by few of them of sentiments
in favor of wholesome laws regulat-
ing the observance of Sunday. The
Argus occupies position enunciated
heretore. 1t would have our present
Sunday law repealed rather than al
lowed to exist as it now stands. If,
on the other hand, the law can be
modified SO as to make its operations
uniform and therefore just to all, we
will heartily commend it. But what
ever is done ought to be done with
the cordial and known consent of the
people; they are the true source of
authority. At present it looks very
much as though the democrats were
trying to catch at a straw for the
purpose of gaining strength among
voters who oppose al legal re, ula
tions on the subject. The question
is one that will sooner or later be
made an issue squarely, and when
that time comes we know that the re-
publican party will espouse the right
side and win--as it has done hereto
fore on other questions.
The ultimate issue will not be
church or anti-church, as many erro-
neously suppose. 1t will be point
to decide between capital and labor
In this land of ours, with wealth rap
idly anassing among powerful indi-
viduals and corporations, every
advantage over poor laborers will be
followe up to the utmost, and the
individual who sells his labor for a
price will be forced to give as much
for the money as can be wrung from
him. All this is foreshadowed in the
tendency already in the East, where
oppression in the matter of the num-
Der of hours labor per day to be per-
formed has led to disas trous strikes.
The true friend of the laboring man
helps him to look ahead and take
precaution in time. Enforcing the
observance of Sunday as a day of
rest means protection to the laboring
man against the encroachments and
demands of capital upon him. 1t
means the setting apart of one day
each week wherein tired bodies may
seek repose without fear of the driv-
ers lash. We of Washington Terri
tory know but little of the hardships
imposed upon labor as yet, but those
of us who look out and see the con
dition of capital and labor in coun-
tries where the Sa bath has been
ignored can easily see the tendency
in our own land unless proper safe
guards are thrown around the work
ing classes while they are able to
demand their ric hts. In portions of
France, laborors in large factories are
compelled to work seven days every
week or give up their employment.
Rest for body and mind one day in
seven is a physical necessity, saying
nothing about the cultivation of our
moral natures. As to the religious
phase of the question, we may say
that it is mere matter Of sentiment
or belief-something that ought never
to be mixed with politics or legisla-
tion. We believe in the theory of
entire separation of church and state,
and expect to labor toward that end;
but wholesome Sunday law involves
something very different.