Los Angeles daily herald., 1889-09-03
TUESDAY, sEprEMBER 8, 1889.
An Un.American Movement.

Those well-meanlng but narrow
minded people who are always troubling
themselves by an undue interference
with the business of their neighbors,
are particularly active in the city at the
present time. The point on which they
are now expending their surplus ener-
gies is a Sunday law. 1t was very
plainly demonstrated in 1882 that Cali
fornia does not want a Sunday law.
The Democracy at that time swept the
State on an anti-Sundsy law platform,
and rolled up majority of tremendous
proportions for General Stoneman. In a
series of resolutions passed last night, it
is said that the lack of such law is q
shame to this State. and it is remarked
that France is the only other State
in the civilized world where no
such law is in force. The posi-
tion of California in this respect may
be unique in this Federation of States /;
but if 80 then we are uniquely American.
No principle is more broadly and solidly
laid down by the founders of this Gov
eminent than the one xhich sought for
ever to decree an absolute divorce be-
tween Church and State. That principle
carried out to its fairly logical results
would forbid the passage of any law in
regard to Sunday, beyond such provis-
ions as will guarantee to all men the
right to worship as they see fit; and that
guarantee includes the right not to wor-
ship at all. There is the whole of the
American principle in relation to relig-
ion. A dozen volumes of comment will
add nothing to that simple statement,
and no amount of argument will do
away with one iota Of the force OF
this germinal idea. The work of
Christianity by all the teachings of its
founder, and by all the explications Of it's
apostles, is q purely moral one. The
churches work is from the inside of q
man, and must be done in his heart.
The appeal to civil powers to aid in this
has always proved to be the most fatal
weakness of the churches. 1t is the ap.
peal to the sword, which, Christ said,
must prove fatal to him that makes it.
1t makes the Kingdom to be Of this
world" As to France, any American
State may well be proud Of being found
in line with that progressive nation.
France has always been the fecund
mother of broad, of advanced, of humane
principles. She is the only prominent
State in Europe which has yet thrown
off all sorts of old.world notions,
of ties that fetter the human
mind, heart and conscience, and
that, like our own great Republic,
proclaims the sovereignty of manhood as
the sole basis Of right to rule in human
affairs. The divine rights of kings, the
guarded privileges of birth, and other
un-American ideas that are supreme in
all other European States, are dead and
buried in France. Shall we go back to
these; shall we undo the noble deeds of
the fathers; shall we roll the centuries
backward ard align our laws with those
of Russia and Austria because it is q
shame to be in line with France? Well,
hardly! In the interest of religion, as
the best thing for the churches, as the
surest stay for the existence of the
Christian Sunday, we say in all kind
ness and sincerity to these we'll meaning
but erring enthusiasts, mind your
own business. Attend duly to your own
religious duties. Enjoy in peace your
Sunday rest and other privileges. Trust
to the good example of your lives, to the
logic of your cause, to the power of your
omnipotent God, to draw erring men to
your side. Avoid all semblance of CO.
ercion or worldly influence to do this
work. Let the people you think to be
wrong spend their Sundays as they
think best, if you wish to be unmolested
in your rights. 1t is too late in the day
to carry out your plans, and America has
not the soil where your ideas will germ
mate and grow. Be content to be Sc.
cure in your own rights, and give others
the same rights as you enjoy.