The Portland daily press., 1885-08-21
The Sunday Law.

To the Editor of the Press:
1t will be found that large proportion of
your readers thoroughly indorse your edi-
torial of yesterday. When an indignation
meeting is called within dozen miles Of
Portland to intimidate municipal officers for
enforcing a law which is more than two and
half centuries old and was re-enacted as
recently as 1883, it is high time for law-abid-
ing citizens to speak out. So bare-faced an
attempt publicly to resist the law of the land
has not been attempted since the Kingfeld
antl-draft riots of 1868. Within the past "a
years no less than AZ laws have been enacted
Tor the suppression of liquor selling, the
ancient principles of the criminal law have
been reversed for the more effectual convic-
ton and punishment of liquor dealers,
special duties have been imposed upon mu-
nlclpai officers and public prosecutors, 50
per diem given to sheriffs and deputies, and
special State constables provided to speed
the work. In the meantime the penalty for
adultery, and even rape, has been lowered,
and now comes an open public defiance of
the Sunday law.
The selectmen of Old Orchard are ridi-
euled, 1nsulted and abused, not only at
public meeting in the town, but in one of our
city newspapers, for the performance of a
sworn duty in endeavoring to enforce
shamelessly violated law of the State.
Culprits arrested IN fagrdnte deIicto bold
ly threaten further violations, on the plea
that they do not feel that they have been
doing wrong IN keeping open shop on the
Lords day, or selling Sunday newspapers
II this sort OF anarchy is to be tolerated
and even encouraged, how long can the pub
lie peace be maintained?
Of what consequence is it whether a
malefactor feels that he has been dsing
wrong?
INSIh What rogue e'er felt the halter draw,
With good opinion of the law?"
Doubtless some men feel that there is no
moral guilt in selling Sunday newspaper
on the Lords day, but probably there are
still more who see no moral criminality in
selling glass of sweet cider on a week day.
While still others feel that there is no in
herent sin In dealing out lager beer. But is
that any reason why newspapers should
lend their influence to encourage lawless-
ness and to bring law into contempt and its
officers to ridicule, and perhaps in the end to
expose them to mob violence?
Is it desirable to hasten the return of that
period when we read that Gin those DAYS
there was no Judge in Israel, but every man
did that which was right in his own ewes ?'
For several years there has been a rapidly
increasing disregard of the plain, unrepealed
provisions OF the Sunday law, but this, it is
believed, is the first instance of an open,
public. organized defiance of the lawful
authorities when attempting to enforce it.
The movement marks new departure
from law and order, and must be met
promptly and decisively Mobs, disorderly
meetings, unlawful combinations and every
other form of resistance to law and to its
officers in the lawful discharge of their
functions must and will be met and over
come, and that promptly in the lawful and
proper way, or the peace and safety of So
ciety is endangered.
At Old Orchard this summer it may be the
Sunday law which is the object Of attack
and resistance; next fall, in some other part
OF the, State, it may be the lobster law or, the
game law; next winter the liquor law or the
collection of taxes.
The alarm has been sounded in your paper
none too soon. Let the public attention be
aroused to the insidious but alarming danger
which threatens law and order and Therefore
the social fabric. r. s.