The Kenosha telegraph. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1860-1888, 1885-08-28
SABBATH OBSERVANCE IN THE
GERMAN PARLIAMENT.

Au0 O6IIudu WOIKlllS ulCl are us
covering to their sorrow the unwisdom
of the popular practice of making Sun
day holiday for amusement. The
sequence Is that it has become day OF
labor. Having broken down the senti-
ment of reverence for man and for the
day, there is no protection in the public
conscience for the laboring masses from
the greed for gain which makes the
workman grind seven days in the week.
The commission for the protection of
working men recently presented a bill
in the German Parliament to restrict
labor, or at least hours of labor, on the
Sabbath. Its restrictions are that labor
on the Sabbath shall not be obligatory,
except in few very necessary instances,
and the extent of these to be determined
by the administrative authorities. The
radicals of all shades supported the bill,
as did the Catholic element in the House.
The Liberals, with Bismarck at the
front, objected, ard sought to kill the
bill by Parliamentary cireumlocution
and delay.
Bismarck surprised and astonished his
friends by the position he assumed
toward the proposition. He saw in the
bill simply a framework for something
much more perfect to come, and there
fore favored a special commission for
this purpose. Many industries could
not dispense with work on the Sabbath,
and he did not believe that the working
men would wish to be restrained by law
from working ON the Sabbath, if they so
desired. They would thereby lose quite
a percentage of their wages, which most
of them could not do without suffering.
He believed it not desirable to enjoin by
law how men should spend their Sab
bath, especially if the loss of their pay
would bring hunger into their families.
And. in conclusion, he did not believe
that the working men demanded it or
would be grateful for it.
To these marvellous sophistries from
such a source, which seemed inspired
with the anger experienced at the treat
ment of some of his own propositions for
the aid and protection of the working
classes, the following replies were made
by various members, especially by those
of the Center: Sunday is divine provi-
sion, and the demand for rest for that
day is laid down in the ten command
ments, and cannot be controverted by
pharisaical Interpretation. In England
and in the United States the Sabbath is
strictly obse- we'd, and the divine blessing
seems to crown their industrial interests.
The Chancellor argues solely from a
material standpoint, and neglects the
higher ethical and christian view of the
subject.
A socialist deputy invited the Chancel-
lor to visit the manufacturing regions.
where he could see the pale and pinched
faces of the laborers, who day after day
are obliged to breathe the bad air of the
factories, when he would certainly be in
favor of granting to these operatives the
Sunday at least on which to rest and en-
Joy little fresh air. To all this Bismark
replied Il do not believe in the sinceri-
ty of these counsels. believe that agi-
tators are hurrying on this movement
with a view to SOW more of the seeds of
discomfort, and I am not in favor of pre-
mature action in a matter of so much
importance"
No determination was reached and the
question goes over till the next session.
In this is there no lesson for the work.
ing men of America? 1t is easier to get
a rope around your neck than to get it
off. And the only guarantee the laborer
has of the rest he needs for his body is
in the sentiment of reverence for the
holy Sabbath as an institution divinely
established for mans highest interests.
Make it a day of public amusement and
it soon becomes day of dissipation and
a day of labor. Another thing will fol-
low. Six days wages will be given for
seven days work. If the working men
Eof this country know when they are well
off they will stand by the institution
which stands by them. c. M. III.