The Bossier banner., 1888-05-24
BELLEVUE, IA.
THURSDAY, ,::::::::::::::::MAY "a, 1888.
The Sunday Law.

Of the Legislature to repeal, or great
ly modify, the present Sunday law,
and it is proper that the matter should
be discussed, and that an expression
Of public opinion should be had upon
the subject, so as to influence legisla-
ton in the right direction.
The present law has been in force
for over a year, and there seems to
be but little opposition to it, except
in the city of New Orleans, and we
take it that the religious and quiet
and restful portion of the population
Of that city is also in favor Of some
sort of a Sunday law. In fact, when
the question is considered and de-
bated it will be found that the fewest
number of the people Of the State is
opposed to some sort of Sunday
law. In the country the sentiment OF
the people is almost unanimous in
favor of law which absolutely pro-
hibits all sorts of secular employ
nents on the Sabbath law which
enforces, so far as possible, rest one
day in seven to both man and beast.
Now, is this right or wrong? We
think it is right sentiment, proper
public opinion.
We are q civilized and christian
people in the aggregate-that is to
say, very large majority of our peo-
pie profess to derive their morals
from the decalogue. The principles
of all of the commandments which
assert mans duty to his fellow are
recognized and enforced in our codes
and Observation-Disclosures to
parents, thou shalt not kill, thou
shalt not steal, thou shalt not COM
NIT adultery, thou shalt not bear
false witness, and, thou shalt not
covet, are, in some form or another,
q part of the law of the land in all
countries not barbarous. Why &C
cept the last six and abrogate the
first four precepts of the decaloguef
The ten commandments were promul-
gated several thousands of years ago,
and our reading Of history has con
vinced us that the nations which have
adhered closest to the principles con-
tanned in them, have advanced most
rapidly in civilization and refinement.
But we did not intend to discuss
the Sunday law except as civil in
stitution-something for mans good
as an individual and as member of
society, and for the good of the
people in the aggregate.
Unremitting effort of any charac
acter, continuous labor, physical or
mental, wears out the body and the
mind. Rest at intervals is absolutely
necessary for repairs and recupera-
ton. Without rest, men would be-
come physical dwarfs and mental
imbeciles. Hence the necessity for
rest. The State cannot and ought
not to attempt to control private con-
duct, except 30 far as it affects socie-
ty. Men cannot be prevented from
over work, mental or physical, any
more than they can be restrained
from suicide, but the bad example
can be prohibited and punished, for
that affects others beside the individ-
ual who makes it. Far be it from us
to advocate a government which un-
necessarily interferes with mans in
dividual liberty, but we do insist that
the very object Of government is to
protect the better classes against the
worse classes, the law-abiding classes
against the lawless classes, the peace
full Glasses against the restless and
boisterous classes. A proper Sunday
law aids in this protection. It's OBJ
iect is to close those places in which
the riotous most do congregate, to
stop the plow, the loom, the forge
TO close the store, the factory, the
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