The Memphis appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1886-1890, 1888-03-09
The worIing,non,s sunday.


VIM. Black Steel in the North American Review
for March.
DIR. Felix L. Oswald, in his article on
''The Coming Civilization" speaks as fol-
lows concerning the Sunday Of the future
for workingmen: "The workingmen OF the
future will most emphatically protest
against medieval methods Of government
interference with legitimate rewards OF in
dustry; as, for instance, by the suppression
OF public recreation on the only day when
about 90 per cent. OF our laborers find
their only chance OF leisure" II the
workingmen Of the future are wise they
will do nothing toward breaking down the
legal restrictions which are still thrown
around Sunday observances in this coun-
try. They ought, on the contrary, TO use
oil their influence to preserve Sunday as a
day Of complete rest. The workineman,
surely, needs one day Of rest outof seven.
Tho introduction OF public amusements on
Sunday would diminish the respect and
reverence with which we, as nation, have
always regarded that day, and II would be
but short time before the Lords Day"
would be completely secularizod. As a
proof OF this, take the Sunday OF the pres
countries is surely realized DIR. 0swald's
ideal OF the workingman's Sunday. There
Is an unlimited license in regard TO amuse-
ments, and, what seems TO follow as u nee
essary consequence, an almost unlimited
license in regard 10 business From the
statistics lately collected by the Prussian
government from thirty Of its thirty-fve
departments, we learn that OF tho 800, l5d
manufacturing establishments OF all kinds
in those provinces, 57.75 per cent. were
operated on Sunday. 1.-THE l47, 3l8 estab-
lishments interested in trade and transpor-
tationin twenty-nine provinces, ~ per cent.
we're operated on Sunday. In France the
case is not quite 80 bad, but II is well
known that the amount OF business trans.
acted on Sunday in Paris is immense. In
each OF these countries thousands labor.
ors and clerks labor from one weeks end
to another without any opportunity fol
rest, recreation or self-improyement. What
a strain this must be on wearied muscles
and overweight nerves and how in.
tensely must the tired lNborer long for one
day in seven in which 70 take rest But
he has voluntarily reduced himself 10 thi,
| degraded condition, and there Is no redres.
for him now, for II he refuses 10 work on
Sunday his employer dismisses him, and
secures some one who will.
Now, does the American workman pro.
pose 10 follow the example OF his French
and German brother? II will be sad day
for himself and his country when no doe,
70. Already Is there strong tendency
here toward tho secularization OF tho
Sunday. Many Of our railroad companies
run their freight and passenger trains on
Sunday, and II their employees refuse Il
work they ARE promptly discharged. 0thel
corporations, and even private individuals
are following in the wake Of the railroad
companies. Nothing would please ava
ricious capital and grasping monopoly bet
ter than TO soc complete secularization o.
the Sunday In the United States, anc
nothing would tend more toward tho dc
| graduation and decentralization OF our work
ing classes, and through them Of the Who'll,
country.