The Lambertville record. [volume] (Lambertville, N.J.) 1872-1968, 1883-03-07
SUNDAY REST.

oQNDAA
The following is from an editorial in
ssThe Century Magazine for March
There are two solid grounds on which
Sunday laws rest one, the right of the
prevailing religion of the country (be it
Jewish, Christian, or Pagan to have its
day Of worship free from disturbance;
aud The other, the right of every man TO
an equal share in a rest-day from toll.
AS regards the first, If this country
were Jewish country, the Jewish wor-
ship on Saturday should be peculiarly
protected from molestation. If it were a
Mohammedan country, the Friday should
be in like manner protected This is sim
pie common sense applied to things as
they are, aud no action of doctrinaire
theory. Where there is conflict of
sacred days, as among jew, Christian and
Mohammedan, all cannot be protected,
and hence the majority must determine
The question. This certainly distinguishes
the sacred day, but does no harm to1hose
who do not count it sacred. Itonly obligos
them to be courteous. The inequality in
the matter is only such as in some things
must obtain among the freest people.
As regards the second ground physiol-
ogists, physicians, statisticians and sensi-
bic observers in general, have agreed
that mans body and mind need COM
II.
days. But man will not take that rest
from labor unless he is obliged by law TO
do so. His greed for gain will make him
rum health in his own case, or (worse
slilD make him force his employees to ruin
theirs by continuous work. The law,
therefore, must make and enforce rest
day. But what day shall it take Again !:
common sense, says, "Take the day which
the mass of the community, from religi-
GUS reasons, already regard as a rest day.
So the civil law, providing for men
physical well being, appoints and enforces
a rest-day from labor, which is the same
day ON which the great Christian commu.
nifty worship, and in which the same law,
for other reasons. protects them in wor-
ship.
There is the whole of the Sunday ques,
ton in nutshell. There is no COM
pellng men to be religious, no support
ing state church, no puritanical blue
law. The Jew, or Mohammedan, or
Pagan simply must not make boisierous
demonstration, such as noisy parade, on
Sunday. Why? Because the vast majori-
ty of the people see fit TO worship on that
day. The Jew, or Mohammedan, or Pagan
must not keep open shop that day Why?
Because the people have decreed rest
day from labor once week to help hui
mauity, and that is the day.
The only objection that has any color
in it is that the jew then must keep two
rest days in the week, and hence is ut
disadvantage with his neghbor Well,
as VIC have already said, in the most equal
administrations, there must, in the ma
iure of things be some inequality. Laws,
for example, require notice. of danger
to be put up in dangerous places in the
city but, alas blind men cannot read
the notices. The laws are unequal to The
blind man. They have to be. So here
the Jews conscience tells him TO keep
from working Saturday. The law tells
him 10 keep from working Sunday. II is
pity but it cannot be helped. The
other alternative wonld be destructive to
the whole community. We must all bear
some burdens for the public good.
Our American liberties are largely con.
nec,ed with the weekly day OF rest, THIS
day has given the people time to think,
ard read, and enjoy family life, aud with
out It we should have become an gnof-
ant. british, machine people, like the
low penennlry Of ontinen,al Europe.
Take away this rest-day. and yon under
mine our high moral aud educational con
dilion as a people. You turn US into n
nation of mere ''workies The cry OF
reiig ons oppression, as against Sunday
observance. is a device of the enemy. 1t
Is but lille voice of soulless corporations,
and Of the proprietors Of drinking saloons
and other demoralzing places, who wish
to make their great gains on Sunday, and
care nothing fnr the welfare and happi
ness Of the people. They are The oppres-
sors, and the advocates of day of rest
are the sanch supporters Of trne free
dom.
America has three bulwarks of liberi-
ty--a free ballot, u free school, and free
Sunday. and nethor domestic treachery
nor foreign impudence should be permit
ted TO break them down.