, 1888-06-21
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THE SUNDAY LA w.

A communication in to.day's REVIEW
crilicses severely the members of the Y.
NJ. G. A. and the Good Templars for "ar-
resting prominent business men Tor CON
Quoting their business on sunday"
This Is not an entirely fair statement OF
the situation. In the first place, it makes
no difference in America whether the man
arrested il prominent or an humble citt-
zen, so that the question of prominence
cuts no figure in the business. The fair
way to state the proposition is whether 1t
is better to enforce certain law or not to
enforce IT. Section 1866 of the code, pro-
hibity any person from keeping open any
drinking or billiard sal loon, or selling or
disposing of any Intoxicating liquors as a
beverage on Sunday.
Section 2O67 extends this prohibition to
all business whatever except hotels, drug
stores, livery stables and uudertnkers, and
as far as the sale Of liquor is concerned to
hotels
Shall this law be enforced? There are
three ways to approach the subject.
One is from temperance standpoint.
From that standpoint the REVIEW is of the
opinion that there is no time that Is a
good time for a man to get drunk
Another is from ths standpoint of citi-
zenship. GENERAL GRANT said the best
way to secure the repeal of an offensive
law is to strictly enforce it, In looking at
the question from this standpoint, without
regard to the main question as to whether
there ought or ought not to be any Sunday
laws, the REVIEW Is of the opinion that NJ
laws should be obeyed or repealed. But
a law is manitestly against the SEN
timent of a people, its enforcement should
be proceeded with, in as mild manner as
possible until it can be repealed,
Another and the last standpoint from
which this question will be viewed, is,
ought there to be Sunday lawso
The REVIEW is of the opinion that while
no man can be legislated into sobriety or
into heaven, and while the spirit of Sun
day laws may be carried to the extent of
persecution, yet decent regard for the
wishes and opinions of many people. as
we'll as the necessity from a sanitary stand
point for one day of rest, require cessa-
tion of business pursuits one day out of
seven. Whether that day should be de
v voted to religious duty or to pleasure. is a
question of morals for the churches and the
people to decide.
The REVIEW thinks it is good thing to
GO to church. 1t also sees no harm in a
man taking his wife for a Sunday afternoon
ride. 1t would not whip its Oldest son for
playing game of ball on that day, al
though 1t would prefor to have him at
Sunday school. 1t would have as little
work done on Sunday as possible.
Public opinion must and will decide this
question. 1t is great field for the
churches. II they have the word of the
real, true, only and living Con on their
side they ought to be able to win the fight
by so influencing popular sentiment that
popular sentiment would compel obedience
to their views. How far laws should inter.
fere with private Judgment and the right
Of individual action has never been decided.
To what extent bible teachings should be
incorporated into human legislation has
always been a subject of dispute. The
Sunday movement if followed up AS a legal
proposition will probably result here as it
has elsewhere in closing the front doors
ard keeping the back doors open. But if
approached in a different way to wit, by
the education Of the people and of public
sentiment and toleration OF legitimate
leisure ana amusements on their part on
Sunday, it will result ia triumph for law
and order which is a triumph for the
hurohes