Telegram-herald., 1890-11-21
OFFICIAL PAPER OF THE CITY,



The case OF Il. NJ. King, of Nashville,
who claims 20 be prosecuted on account
OF his religion. has attracted some at
tent.On ia Michigan. since Don NJ. Dick
ins0u's retainer as counsel for defense.
King IS SEVENTH Day Adventist and
WAS arrested Tor working on Sunday.
lie claims that the teuets of his religion
cause hlm 20 remember Saturday as the
holy day OF the week and he thinks it
no transgress.oa 10 work Sunday.
Eing. however, was convicted before
the local court tor working on sunday,
as be was caught blowing IN his field,
and he has appealed. The case IS 10 be
taken TO the United States Supreme
Court, before it u ended.
A very important civil question IS
raised in this case-one which it seems,
Will so rather TO the policy of the law
than 10 It's consututionahty. The
United states Supreme Court, which
has Just held prohlbltory LIQUOR laws
good, az 4 necessary protection to soci-
ETY., will doubtless hold Sunday labor
laws good, if the State deems Sunday
work demOrahzing to society. The
legislative department IS the proper
Judge OF thst question. It doubtless
can forbid labor on that day, if it
deems the welfare Of society concerned
in such prohibition. But yet the law
could not and does not forbid any
mans abstaining from labor on Satur-
day if be wishes to do so. Kings case
would be stronger in the courts, if he
complained of law that required HIM
20 work on MS Sabhath-Saturday.
II the Sunday laws rested entirely
upon religious grounds, they would
have 70 stand or fall with the Sabbath
question. But they are not so based,
bat rather on n question OF policy. It
has long been deemed good policy
both physical and mOrsl-tO recognize
and insist upon a rest of one day IN
seven and, since the Christian world
generally observes sunday as its day of
ress. the law has chosen that day also.
The law making power doubtless mas
right 20 make this selection IN the ex-
ercisc Of its authority to protect and
preserve the best interests of society.
But the question Of policy may be
raised here, which viii call for further
legislation. So long as there is large
and respectable class OF Christian citl-
Gems and numerous conscientious Jews
who believe that the sacred injuactions
apply only to Saturday, instead of sun
day, 10 bchoOves the lav-making power
to ba careful how they direct their pro-
hibrons. These persons are not Grim
inais from the states stsnd-p point aud
should notbe prosecuted or persecuted.
The state, strictly speaking, has moth
ing 10 90 with she Sabbath question. It
- incompetent Co settle it and could not.
fit would. If tne state - 60 enforce
sunday 'sNs at al. they must be thor
oughly overhsuiot 10 meet the sctual
condition of affairs.
So far a. che Sabbath question Is con-
cerned. there e no doubt thss the ORTIZ
odox Christian church stands sta dis
advantage with the ordinary thinker
All the old testament injunctions are
directed 20 The seventh day-the day
Of rest from work completed. Repre-
sent Be- ne they VIII. Sunday Observers
cannot make is LOOK reasonable or log
icsl. CD a. ordinary man. to insist upon
resting on the first cay. before the work
has been done, or t. insist upon the ap-
plication of TIE cid testament strict in
functions concerning she seventh day.
10 ths lirss DAY.
Whle tae ordinary thinksr takes This
view of the question. he ASP reasons
further ard considers she physcsl i'm
poss, bihtY of carving Qua chunk
Of Ene. 60 % spesS. from TIE whole
body Of time and calling it sacred for
az parts Of she world AXE. Ia the
little Patch Of ssrth, over winch the
Jevish theocrscy prevailed. lt vas pos-
sble for the vhols populsCe a. TO-
gether 60 OBSERVE a. sacred ere rartcu-
lar little chunk of time. bat When the
Gospel was preached e. the Genhles. it
Wa suresd ever - lsrxs a. sxtent az
the ssrth's surface. ihat e hsd - give
up nuch 81 its nsrrowuess. The sos
&c Nas Intended - Be a. vide a. the