Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1890-01-31
WASHINGTON LETTER.
Religions Agitation in the District
Of Columbia.

w Liza
Religious Agitation in the District
Of Columbia.
WAsHISGToN, DC, Jan. l., 1890.
Special Correspondence OF the
DH,ERET NEWS. There is con-
siderable sensation in the District
Of Columbia over an effort on the
part of some OF the religious people
to introduce law for the special Oh
servance Of the Sabbath day. Con-
gress has been asked 10 pass this
law, which Incorporates a provis-
ion that no labor Whatever shall
be performed on the Sabbath day.
but II contains a ciause which ex-
cepts Facts ofreligion. /" This phrase
ology is causing a great deal Of
discussion, and people are inquiring
what viii be deemed an 'fact Of re-
ligion;" and it even goes farther
I than this, for they ask what kind
Of religious worship DO the Sunday
law-wOrkers intend shall be pro-
tected by the national Sunday law?
IL the answer il, "Al kinds Of re-
ligiOus worship" then the question
arises, ''NNiil il piotect such rs the
Chinese in their noisy demonstra-
tions?" And it is thought by some
that the courts, In case the law
should pass, would have 20 deter
mine what was religion and what
were the acts not consistent there
with, and that they would be very
apt to limit it down to acts which
are in unison with the Christian re-.
ligion only. This, IL IL claimed,
would be an establishment of reIlg-
ion within the meaning OF the Con-
stitution, and consequently void.
The following petition, which
annex in print, has been presented
to Congress 10 prevent the passage
of such law in the District Of
Columbia, and this is followed by
! certain reasons, published in the
Sentinel Of New York City, and
which will be suggestive 10 your
readers, with whom the question Of
religious freedom is of such vital i'm
portance at the present time:
To The Honorable the House Of Repre-
Se1ltGtiUes Of The Uiited States (Du-
piicate TO The SeaGte}:
eve. the undersigned. adult resi-
dents Of the District OF Columbia, q
years Of age or more, hereby respect
fully, but earnestly petition your hon
orable body not to pass any bill in
regard to the observance OF the Sab
bath. Lords Day, or the first day Of
the week as day Of rest or worship;
nor 10 favor any legislation that will
directly or indirectly give preference
10 the principles, institutions, or Oh
servances OF any one religion above
another; that the rights Of all the peo-
pie may forever remain without in
fringement, according to both the letter
and the spirit OF the First Amendment
to our National Constitution, as our
fathers established it,"
Reasons why every American citi-
zen, every Christian and every person
should sign this petition:
Every American citizen should sign
it,
l. Because Congress is asked and is
endeavoring TO pass a bill requiring
and regulating the observance OF Sum
day as day Of rest and worship.
2. Because Congress is forbidden by
the Constitution TO make any such
law.
;. Because every American citizen
ought to respect the Constitution, and
to do all he can to get others to respect
il.
livery Christian should sign it,
/. Because the Sabbath-the dav Of
rests the Lords day, and 1esus
Christ has forbidden Christians TO
render civil government that which
is the Lords. Matt. xxii:2l.
2. Because the Word Of God has for
hidden civil government having any,
thing to do with anything hat pertains
to mans relations 10 God. Rom. xii.
l, g, 10.
3. Because every Christian ought 10
respect the word OF Jesus Christ, and
TO do all he consistently can to see that
civil government respects it by keeD-
ing within the limits which the Word
OF God has set to the jurisdiction Of tho .
civil power.
Every person whether he be an
American citizen. or n Christian. or I
both, or neither, ought to sign this Pc Z
tition.
l. Because religious interference in
civil things. and civil interference in /
religious things, are both a most dam |
gerous invasion Of the deares;s rights |
Of man
Because so eminent an authority
as DR.. Philip Schaff SAYS, what il i /
ersy to abundanily prove. that sunday I
laws are a connecting link in the union |
OF Shureh and State; AID no loyai /
american clilzen, no true Christian, !
no man thai Is loyal TO mankind, wants 4
any union OF Church and State in the
United States.
1t is thought by some in the dis
cussion that extremists will even try
TO compel people 10 read no books
but the Bible, and go nowhere but
10 church ON SABBATH day. and IL
persons were found to have ridden
IN streetcar (which is supposed
10 do nothing only religious service
on the Sabbath day, and should
iail to attend church. that they
might be prosecuted. 1t appe ars
that Senator Blair presented this
OH IN Congress, upon the petition
OF over two millions Of people, and
that it is favored, of course. by the
most radical reiigionlsts Of the day:
but 1t is opposed not 50 much be-
cause 1t may become law of tie
District Of Columbia, where no one
Is compelled TO reside unless thew
want TO, except Presidents of the
United states and the highest offici-
ais, who do as they please anyway.
put because it may be made a ma
tionai law all over the country.
A great many clapped their hands
With joy when the confiscatiop of
the Mormon" Church property be-
cafne law who are now tearing
their hair for fear that Congress NAV
listen TO the same influential power
70 deprive them from walking in
park on Sunday, or Of reading a
sunday newspaper instead of the
Iour Gospels. II is when our own
ioes are pinched that we feel the 1
weight Of oppression. Religious
liberty is good thing to talk about.
'ut we are not always willing to
record IL to Others; and Artemus {
Ward hit IL when he said, aThat
'ome people thanked God for the {
privilege Of worshipping Him ac-
'ording to the dictates Of their own
'onsciences and Of keeping every