Idaho semi-weekly world. [volume] (Idaho City, Idaho Territory) 1875-1908, 1889-04-05
RELIGIOUS LEGISLATION IN
KAXSiS.

The State of Arkansas appears to
have difficulty in enacting laws in
harmony with the constitution Of the
United States and the great self
evident truths enunciated in the
Declaration If Independence, that all
men are created equal, and endowed
with certain inalienable rights.
Four years ago the State Legislature
of Arkansas repealed an exemption
clause to the State Sunday law which
granted those who conscientiously
observed the seventh day of the
week the privilege of laboring on the
first. This working hardships, even
to the fning and imprisonment of
many respectable citizens, the next
Legislature of 1887 re-enacted the
exemption. But according to the
Arkansas Gazette of March 9TH,
bill has been introduced and already
passed the Senate TO again repeal the
exemption clause.
Various opinions were entertained
by the different Senators as to the
propriety of legislating upon religious
affairs, some holding that it was not
in the provision of civil law to pre-
scribe day or manner of worship,
that every sect should be allowed to
observe the day of their choice, and
that to abridge in any way the laws
of personal liberty was wrong in spirit
and theory. Senator Miller said that
he held membership in the Metho-
dist Church because he thought them
the most Liberal, and opposed the bill
because it proposed "the worst kind
of religious intolerance" Another
Senator SAID il the bill should become
! n law some of the best citizens would
leave the State.
Senator Tillman, the protector Of
the bill, though styling those who
would be seriously affected by the
passage of the bill as ga very devcut
and respectable people" and "gen-
orally good citizens" favored their
expulsion rather than the federation
of diversity in religious customs.
This appears to be quite a digres-
sion from the spirit of American lib
erty and freedom, and out Of harmony
with the principles of the constitution
of the United States which prohibits
Congress fr~ m making any laws res.
pecting the establishment of religion
or prohibiting the free exercise there
Of. What is true of Congress in this
respect ought to be true of State
Legislatures. The constitution also
says that no religious test shall ever
be made as qualification to any Of
! flee of public trust under the United
States. Neither should any such
test be made as right to citi-
zenship or standard of civility in
the United States. The fourteenth
article or amendment bears directly
upon this point, which says: "No
State shall make or enforce any law
which shall abridge the privileges or
immunities of citizens of the United
States" 1t also requires each State
to grant to every person within its
jurisdiction equal protection of the
law" This, it appears, the bill in
troduced by Senator Tillman and al
ready passed by the Senate fails to
do. 1t guards one citizen in his re-
ligious rights, but not another. 1t
allows one man to have six days in
the week and obey his conscience
aud another but five if he obeys his.
In other words, it interferes with the
rights of conscience and assumes the
right of the State to make choice in
religious matters. The words of
Washington should be commended
to the Arkansas Legislature. Said
he: Every man who conducts him
self as good citizen is accountable
alone to God for his religious faith,
and should be protected in worship
ping God according to the dictates OF
bis own conscience This is not
only good doctrine for lawmakers
and religionists, but 1t embodies the
very principle upon which our gov
eminent stands-civil and religious
liberty w A Coz conn