The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1890-06-27
n LOOKS LIKE rAxArICrsM.


The stste Of Tennesses has . stringent
Sunday Law. II declares Sunday to b the
Christian Sabbath, fosbids its dissertation
and prescribss . penalty for the doing OF
o work on that day. r. -. King. afarmer
Of Troy. Obion county. in that stste. Il m
Adventist, Of whom there ars many in that
state. They claim 10 follow thes strict letter
Of the Bible, and professionally, ron rclig-
ions conviction. observe Saturday - the
Sabbath. Still observing what they profess
to believe in a. . Biblical injunction, they
labor during the other six days. including
sunday. In pursuance Of this religious
belief Mr.. King worked upon his farm on
sunday. and it il not claimed that in doing
90 he disturbed anybody, but the contrary
has been admitted and established.
But IN organisation has been effected.
having for its object the prosecution OF
vioiators Of The Sunday lax. which has
been especially seaious in watching and
prosecuting Adventists. Through the &C.
tivity OF this association Mr.. King was
arraigned before . Justice Of the peace. who
fined him, and he paid the line. Suisse
quently he was indicted by the grand jury
for the same ofFense. tried. convicted and
again fined. His case was carried to the
Supreme Court Of the state. where he plead
that his set did not constitute . Nuisance,
and also that the lower court erred In
refusing TO admit evidence that he had
been oncs arrested. tried and punished for
the same alleged ofYense. The plea was Of
no avail. and the appellate sustained the
judgment Of the lower court.
But Mr.. King il backed by an organize
ton known 40 The National Religious
Liberty Association. /" and they have APP
pealed the case 70 the Supreme Court Of
the United States, which never yet has de-
cided . case involving the validity Of these
Sunday law regulations. The following Is
. part Of this latter Ass o~cistion's platform
Of principles:
We believe in the religion Taught bv Jesus
Christ
We believe in temperance. and regard the
ltQuor tsafac - . curse 70 society.
We believe In supporting the civil government
and submitting to In authority.
We deny the right Of any civil government -
legislate on religious questions.
We believe IL 10 the right. and ahould b the
privilege. OF every man 70 wornhip according 70
the dictates OF his own conscience
We also believe IL to BE- our duty to use every
lawful and honorable means TO prevent relig-
ious legislation by the civil government: that
we aud our feilow-citiseus may enjoy the ines
Unable blessings Of both religious and civil lib
erty.
II ~. r.;t.a Sxst>. crc.a-a rou~& .hsrI
see 1T 70 assume jurisdiction in this case
there Is hardly room to doubt what will Be
the outcome. While it may. and probably
will sustain the right of the state to enact
such police regulation as will protect the
mass OF citizens against disturbances or in
terruption in their observance of Sunday
as the Sabbath, the idea is inconceivable
that it will sustain the right Of the state to
pass upon and punish the religious belief
and actions Of other protesting Christians.
when such belief and actions lead to no
d~isorderly consequences and in no manner
disturb the community. II is even doubt
ful whether that Tribunal will hold that the
police power OF the state can be exercised
to protect what may be assumed to be the
bulk OF the population in the quiet and IN
interrupted performances OF religious duties
and worship on Sunday. and deny to Jews.
Adventists and others "the equal protec-
ton OF the Law" in regard to undisturded
worship on the day conforming 70 their
religious belief and teachings.
The narrow basis of this contention be-
comes apparent when il is remembered
that to the All-Seeing Eye. and. as q plain
physical fact. upon this earth OF ours any
instant of time is yesterday, today and to-
morrow TO some portion of il. and there
fore. that while some are devoutly wor-
shipping on sunday. ut the same instant OF
time others, equally dcvout and of like be-
lief. may be commencing their Monday
labor or winding up that OF Saturday. The
court may fnd q warrant in the consetu-
ton for holding that this Is a Christian ma
lion, bat il win hardly venture to define,
jadicially. what constitutes an orthodox
Interpretation OF the Biblical rule as to Sab
bath observance. While it may hold that
Christians who believe in Sunday as the
sabbath may he protected from molesta-
tan in the exercise Of that belief. il will
never hold that others. who believe differ
emily. shall be punished for such belief or
for conforming 10 IL There coa.d be no
more arbitrary or unjust commingling OF
the functions of church and state, which
has no part In the American polity.