Homer guardian. (Homer, La.) 1888-1890, 1889-02-08
,lom OF Lsaz
Friday Feb s, 1889.
EDIr0Rs GUARDIANS

~ Sopi '" ! "u' t"p>'I '"4''H :
into my hands, my attention was
attracted particularly to IN edlto,
rial hnder the caption, Law and
Morals" | beg to be allowed
although not 4 resident OF youl
State, with all due courtesy and
respect, 20 offer some structures
upon the apparent sentiment OF
that article. | quote as follows:
Government has the right, and
is in duty bound to adopt such
regulations as will protect its peo-
pie, in their inalienabIe rights Of
life, liberty and property. When
it has done all that is necessary
to secure these, its just power and
authority is cxhausted.'
This plausible but somewhat
peculiar doctrine, is summed up
automatically thus: "Moralit.y
enforced by law is tyranny"
Now, l am no metiphysician and
can scarcely appreciate the Gnc
distinctions attemntoa 70 - drawn
.-uerwccn law and what YOU ere
pleased TO call moral Regula
TONS nor is it necessary in this
case; for in my humble judgement
your next paragraph, Ito use an
Ark. boosters phrasc) knocks the
filling out of IT,"
Second-"In a government like
ours the people are the supreme
authority Of last resort over ell
written law Agreed; now If The
people, (the Supreme Authority J
sees fit TO enforce morality by law,
where is the ''Tyranyy If, IS
you say. they have the right and
do nullfy laws not in accord with
their wishes, have they not the
equal right to enforce laws against
evils SO fragrant that they strike
at and endangcr these inallenblc
rights Of which you speak?
Upon reading the first part OF
your article, | supposed Of course,
shat it was mere repetition OF
the old argument against the
temperance laws, but imagine my
surprise when the fact was dcve
opel that this ingenious and some.
what covert attack was aimed at
the Sunday Laws. In the conclad
ing paragraphs we find the follow
ing astounding statement, the cor
rectness Of which you must allow
inc to question:
ut (the Sunday law is ignored
in many portions Of the State and
respected but little anywhere;
there is deep seated conviction
in the minds Of many good. Chris
tsn people that this law is yio
lation Of the fundamental doctrine
both of free government and of
the principles and teachings Of
Christianity"
Can this statement be true? |
think not; certainly not, OF my
eta.e or of Claiborne parish, where
] have many valued friends and
acquaintance. There can be no
more beautiful spectacle or stron
ger evidences Of tAe civilization OF
the age presented them the fact
that as the sun rises on eaci, Sab.
bath morning, it sheds its beams
npon a peaceful and quiet land,
where It's people. recognizing not
only tie requirements of law, bat
the mandate of the Creator-are
content to lay aside the impli
ments OF industry and rest from
their labor; especially is this true
OF the farmers, who of themselves,
constitute a large majority, but |
am glad to say it is not confined
to them; In the towns and cities.
the respectable merchants and
mechanics, with few exceptions,
cheerfully lay aside their work.
close their doors, and thus show
their respect for the law of God.
man and themselves. venture
to assert that those who are dis
posed to violate and oppose the
sunday Law in the main, belong
To thst class Of merchants who
deem it necessary to place screens
before their counters, and | doubt
not MIR. Editor, that this same
class will gobbie up and appropri-
ate With infinite gusto, your some