The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1885-08-27
The Sunday Law.
To The Editor Of the Press:

To the Editor Of the Press:
All citizens interested in the preservation
of the Christian Sunday in Maine owe a debt
of gratitude to ''H" in yesterdays PRESS
for the frankness with which he reveals the
true purpose and design of the leaders of the
Old Orchard indignationists and their SYM
pathizers and abetters all along the coast.
With commendable boldness he admits that
''the case is representative one, and may
be taken as a fair illustration of the present
status of the Sunday law question
He then goes on to discuss the question
with cearness and ability. His first point is
that the Sunday law is very broad and com
prehensive, forbidding not only the keeping
open shop and the sale of goods, but travel
ing and amusementS, games, sports and rec
reations. In other words, the Sunday law
does not, like the liquor law, content itself
with penalties for the seller, but is aimed al
so at the buyer and the individual violator.
And he goes on to ask whether any of us
is wholly guiltless of violations of what may
be called "the second title of the Sunday
law. Now | propose to initiate his frank
ness, and therefore begin by admitting the
truth of his implication. With very few eX-
ceptions, it must be inferred that we all have
sinned against the requirements of the Sun
day law; there is none that in this particu-
lar always ''doeth good, no not one." Let us
not be misunderstood. What | mean to say
is that most, if not all of us, are more or less
guilty of a passive violation of the Sunday
law, by walking, riding and other locomo-
tion, or travelling not absolutely necessary
on the Lords day. But | do not admit, be-
cause do not believe, that majority of the
inhabitants of the State habitually visit
shops or places of amusement on Sunday, or
do unnecessary work on that day. If they
do it is very recent change, for the plain
reason that the opportunity and temptation
has only very recently been afforded them
by the opening of shops and places of pub
lie amusement. | am not sure that within
the memory of the present generation there
has ever been a time when many of our pe0-
pie did not walk, if not ride on the Lords
day for recreation.
But ''H win not deny that the running of
excursion trains and steamers, the sale of
Sunday newspapers and the opening of shops
and places of public amusement is a new
thing in Maine. The steam whistle and the
yelling of the newsboy ON the Lords day
are nusanees of late date.
III, Z however, insists that the law should
be enforced, if at ALL equally and impartial
ly upon all classes OF yiolators alike. He
would prosecute and punish the evening
traveller on the Western Promenade, or he
would condemn the prosecution of the lessee
of theatre or dance hall, or the circus pro-
prietOr who should give Sunday entertain
ment. This, in plain English, l understand
to be his position. If | am wrong, | should
be glad to be corrected. If | am right, are
we ready Tor this abruptland radical depart
ure from the New England idea and practice
of 265 years? But this is not all.
Does n, and does the progressive move
ment which he so ably represents, also con-
template the repeal of the new statute which
forbids the Sunday shooting of game, passed
as late as 1888, and of the law relative to
notes falling due ON Sunday, and whether he
is in favor of opening the civil and criminal
courts, the banks and the custom house, and
of leaving the running Of freight trains, the
building, pulling down and repairing of
houses and stores, as well as the opening of
shops, theatres, dance halls, circuses, etc.,
ito the individual cOnscience?"
But even If such is his desire and such the
purpose of the Old Orchard indignationists,
''etid omne genas;" if he and those whom be
| represents are in favor of agitating a repeal
| of the Sunday law, which of course includes
all these consequences, allow me to ask him
what justification he can offer for ridiculing
| denouncing and opposing the enforcement OF
| the law while it remains unrepealed?
| 1t is his and his sympathizers unqueStion-
| ed privilege to advocate the repeal of any
| law, but is he willing to take the response
bility Of encouraging a public and organized
resistance of an existing law? III" will dc
me the justice to acknowledge that the dan
| ger of encouraging such resistance was the
main theme of the former articleof r. S.