Mexico weekly ledger., 1883-08-09
OUR SUNDAY LAW.

OUR SUNDAY LAW.
The Sunday clause Of our existing
License Law has been upon the stat
ute book for many years. 1t was
not placed there fer religious purpos-
es; but to promote the public welfare.
Here in Mexico the clause has been
as well observed as could have been
expected. 1t has not been as well
treated, however, in other portions
of the State. In some counties the
sum demanded for dram-shop licenses
has been too insignificant to create
the least concern about their forfeiture,
and the result has been wide spread
conviction, that a demand Of more
money for them would improve our
revenue laws ; make their Sunday pro-
visions self enforcing !; and reform, as
far as possible, what was justly COM
planned of by prohibitionists. 1t has
been, and is still very generally
thought, that where saloon keepers
pay a high sum for their privileges.
they will not speedily run the risk of
losing them. This is all there is in
the Downing Amendment, all it was
designed OR expected to accomplish,
and obeyed it will, bring about what
was anticipated by the Legislature.
In that event it may be amended and
improved, but not repealed, unless
the LEDGER is mistaken ; however, the
tendency Of public sentiment is TO-
wards greater restraint Of the liquor
traffic. What astonishes it is, that
the resistance to the new license law,
which has sprung up at st. Louis
under the procrastination and appar-
ent unwlllingness of the council and
police Of that city to second the Leg
islature and carry out the will of the
vast majority Of the State, threatens
Sunday agitation here also, where
there is comparatively little necessity
for it. The condition of matters at
st. Louis will, doubtless, soon change
for the better. Its city council
will be compelled to enact q license
law, conforming to that of the State.
Its police will also in due time en-
force It, and when saloon keepers
have paid high rates for their privi-
leges, they will comply with the
condition upon which they have been
granted, Dr. fare the worse for refusal
to do so. Most of the present out
cry at st. Louis comes from men,
that desire 10 escape from paying en-.
creased license rates. Their demand
for new and unusual construction and
enforcement of the sections Of the
Revised Statutes regulating Sunday
observance, has no other object thar
to make all respect for that day, un.
popular.
The Sections of the Revised Stat.
utes concerning the enforced regula'
ton Of Sunday, are complete within
themselves, entirely separate from
those relating to revenue, and theil
provisions may be briefly enumerated
as prohibiting work, hunting, selling
and gaming, on the first day of the
week, except where another day Of
rest is conscienciously observed, ant
where the works performed and th,
sales made are of charitable or inn
mediate necessity. These exceptions
open a wide door. The individual
and collective necessities of societ,
have very extensive scope, and it ha'
been held recently, at the East, tina
the congregation Of people at depots
seeking transportation. creates necesi
ty for Sunday trains. If such a rul'
is generally applied, demand will mea
sure license. 1t can be very readil,
seen by everybody however, that ever
under more restrictive Interpretation
what is either charitable or necessary
in either works Or sales, can seldom
be known to the casual observer, o.
to official or voluntary informers, ant
that therefore hasty attempts at en-
forcing Sunday observance will b.
productive of disappointment and ex
pense. The SABBATH rule, John 1924
is Judge not according to appear
ance, but by righteous Judgment
and the fundamental principles Of al
government are the suggestions o
common sense. Endeavor, therefore
to put other traffickers, the baker
butcher, milkman, ieeman, and pur
veyors Of immediate wants undeI
such restraints as attach to saloon
keeping, will be but an exhibition Of
folly.
ALI the LEDGER aims at, is to i'm
part information concerning o vexet
question, and explain the characte
of the Sunday law, since one Of tn
most unaccountable things is tn
tendency Of people to rush into ex
tremes, when these are discussed ant
enforced observance of q day Of res
alluded to. Civil and ecclesiastical re
lations Ar, then mixed up until there i
general befogment, under the Mosaic
economy where where all government
was by one body and often by a sin
gle mind, even the Fourth Command
ment had its several provisions o
rest within the family, as its domes
tic and Of sanctification by specia
and vicarious sacrifices at the Taber
nacle, as its religious side, and thes
distinctions, commemorative Of de