Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1890-08-06
Our Sunday Laws.
For THE REPUBLICAN,.

of the German Emperor, at which most
of the powers Of Europe were repre-
sented, had three chief topics offered
for its consideration; one of which was
1.-THE Regulation of Sunday Labor"
A movement has been going on in Ger
many, In Austria, and in France, to Sc
cure to the working classes the weekly
rest, of which in large measure they
are deprived. The German Socialistic-
Labor party, at its organization at
Gotha, 1875, made the prohibition of
Sunday labor one Of it's chief demands,
and since then has continued to insist
upon it. Numerous petitions were adj
dressed to the government, from time
to time, asking for legal provisions for
Sunday rest. Several times bill to
this effect was introduced into the I'm
perial Parliament, but without success
About four years ago, however, an
official inquiry into the extent of Sum
day labor was instituted. 1t was found
that more than half the manufacturing
establishments work on Sunday,+-em-
ploylng fifty-seven per cent. of their
hands. The severe competition, and
the consequent small profits and low
wages render it impracticable for any
one district or country to reduce the
hours of weeks work, it id believed.
The tendency seems to be III the direc-
ton of more, rather than less, work on
Sunday. One evil result of the Sunday
work is its effect upon family life; and
among the numerous labOrers that
work in their homes, the system is at
the worst.
In Austria, the agitation in favor of
Sunday rest resulted in 1885, in the
1f 10 1of,
labor, and restricting, to some extent,
work on Sunday.
During the late Paris Exposition, a
number of scientific congresses were
held under government authorization
and one of these was devoted to the
observance OF Sunday Leon Say, the
distinguished senator and political
economist, presided. There were pre-
sent representatives of railway and
manufacturing companies, chambers of
commerce, industrial enterprises and
workingmen's societies.; Protestants,
Roman Catholics, Israelites and free
thinkers. Letters from distinguished
men unable to be present were read !;
among these were Mr.. Gladstone, ex-
President Cleveland and President
Harrison, the last being named by ac-
clamation honorary president of the
congress-. Carefully prepared reports
presented the Sunday rest in it's rela-
ton to health and social life, to indus
trial economics, to the public services,
ETC., and to legislation. The conclusions
reached, after prolonged discussion,
were embodied in a series of resolu-
tons. England and the United States
were prominently referred to as illus
trating the results of the Sunday rest.
The fact was emphasized as especially
significant, that in these countries,
where religious liberty is most Jealous
ly respected, the weekly rest is most
strictly enforced. The congress estab-
lished permanent international COM
mission to continue the investigations,
and at it's close, French Sunday
League was formed.
The sessions of the Berlin Confer
ence continued for two weeks. In the
matter of Sunday labor, it was agreed
that a weekly day of rest should be al
lowed, not only to women and children,
but to all industrial workmen, and that
this day should be Sunday; exceptions
being made in the case of occupations in
which, from the nature of the produc-
tons, uninterrupted work is necessary,
or which can be carried on only at GER
tain seasons. In these excepted cases
the workman should have every other
Sunday free.
In our own country, strange to say,
there has been an increasing opposi-
ton, not to say hostility, to the Sunday
laws, while IN some quarters, as In our
city, for example, these laws have been
The opposition has arisen, first, on the
no ri Of hnco bO nrff hot hose 1oxx
rest upon religious ground, and are
state has no right to enforce the claims
of any religion. In reply to this it is
sufficient to say that our Sunday laws
do not compel the religious observance
Of the day; they simply require that
for the sake of the good and comfort of
the large majority of the people, if not
for the good and comfort of every indi-
vidual, all buying, and selling, and la
Dor, that are not absolutely necessary,
be abstained from. The Sunday laws
require no man to go to church, or to
engage in religious worship.
In the second place, the motive of
those to whom these Sunday laws are
obnoxious, and who desire their aboli-
ton, is manifestly, the greed for gain.
People cannot make money enough;
they would make more, they think, by
buying and selling, or working on Sun
day. But has not the State right to
keep man from doing himself harm?
as well as from harming his neighbor?
It is a clearly demonstrated and gener-
ally accepted truth, that the weekly
rest is necessary to the physical, social
and moral welfare at least of civilized
man. Our forefathers understood this;
the natives of the old world are begin
ming better to realize it; and is it not,
to say the least, sad step backward
toward barbarism, heathenism and an
archy, when people who profess to be
enlightened American citizens, allow
the salutary legislative enactments of
their country to be habitually trampled
under foot?
We have not discussed this question
from religious standpoint, but may
be permitted yet to say word in re-
gard to the views which Christians hold
of Sunday. The New Testament, in
which they believe, calls it ssthe Lords
Day." and says that Jesus Christ claim
ed it to be His own. If they are right,
1--WE use the ''J'' for arguments sake)
then every open, public violation OF
"the Lords Day. is an insult to God;
an act of rebellion against His declared
will, and grievous provocation of His