The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1890-01-26
TIE SUNDAY PAPER.
A Letter From the Ministerial
Association.
GROUNDS or oisAPPaovAL.


TACOMA, Jan. "a
To THE EprTon: The sunday news
PAPER. ike the poor. is always with us.
We are not permitted 70 forget its exist
ence af any time, even il We would But
during the past few weeks the clergy Of the
twin cities Of the Sound have received two
distinct challenges to give the subject OF
the sunday newspaper special attention,
and to array themselves In opposition to il
II they dare. The first challenge was
issued BY the Posr-IsTKLLIsEscER. Of Sc
attic; the second was in last Mondays
edition OF the Tacoma Ledger. Both papers
speak In tones Of warning, il not Of threat
ening.
The Posr-IHrELLssExcKR intimates that
the clergy may end themselves involved in
criminal prosecution should their oppo-
sitson take on . certain practical form.
Tbs Ledger Is content TO suggest the milder
penalty of impaired influence 70 the
preachers il they continue to oppose. In
both cases the attitude taken IL designed to
ascertain whether the pastors Of Tacoma
and Seattle have convictions on the sub
ject. ard having them. whether they have
the courage OF them. These newspaper
challenges OF Washington, however, must
not be treated as OF merely local signii-
canoe. They are really part of general
line OF battle that is being formed to oppose
the national movement for securing . bet
ter observance Of the Lords day. Patri-
otto, humane and religious men are being
moved a. never before to contemplate the
danger which threatens America of the
complete seculssixation OF the day, and to
take sction for the preservation of it In
the forefront of these secuiarixing agencies
Is the sunday newspaper. and 1t immedi-
ately feels any movement on the days be-
half. Hence editorial artillery IL being
wheeled into line al over the country, and
these discharges at Tacoma and Seattle are
but local indications of struggle which Is
fast assuming national proportions.
But,narrowing down the general question.
We are 70 discuss this morning that par
ticuiar aspect of ii to which our local news
papers have challenged rs and il viii be
the aim Of this paper 10 state the principal
grounds on which We object TO the Sunday
newspapers. and to indicate the duty de-
yoiving upon Us as ministers OF the gospel
In relation thereto.
First of all, the preparation and Issue OF
the sunday edition Of q daily newspaper
deprives vast numbers Of men and BOYS of
their needful Lords day rest The Ledger
OF last Monday would have rs understand
that this Is not . fact. but that IT is Mon
days issue which involves so much Sunday
work In form. this may seem correct. but
what are the facts? In the establishments
Of those great dallies. which issue no sum
day edition, is is found that work on
sunday can ~ almost, II not cntiFefy, dis
peused with. By working up TIL IL o'clock
on Saturday night and resuming q l2
O'Clock on Sunday night, Mondays issus
il ready for the early trains and rs good .
paper Is published as on any morning OF
the week. Yet the employees of the paper
have ell. except perhaps the reporters, en-
joyed full Sundays rest. Monday morn
ing's edition in such case does not involve
Sunday work, and is not the sinner the
interested advocates OF Sunday newspapers
would have us to believe. Now, when in
stead of . six days issue q seven days
issue has to be provided for, much Of the
work done on Mondays paper has to be
performed on Sunday. Brains must think,
and brows must sweat. eyes must watch
and hands must weary seven days in every
week. 70 accomplish the task OF newspa-
pers which exacting stockholders prescribe.
And while the body rapidly wears out, the
soul must stsrve. The family is deprived
OF what should be the sweetest intercourse
of life-the society OF the husband and
father on the weekly day of rest. .sDo You
get one days rest in seven2 ?" was asked of
one OF the slaves OF the seven days daily.
Not one in seventy-seven, was the bitter
reriy. How many newspaper men could
echo that complaint The wonder is that
With combinations among workmen for
the resistance of soulless exactions in 90
many other directions, one wonders that
the newspaper men do not more frequently
assert themselves in opposition to that con-
slant grind. which wears them down on
saturday and Sunday the same Then
there Is an army Of newsboys, harrying,
shouting. pressing their papers and rival
ing each other on all days alike. What
SORT OF training Tor a Christian manhood
and citizenship in Christian state does
distributing newspapers on Sunday morn
ing provided Where is the patriotism or
humanity OF . people who can suffer their
pleasure 20 be uinistered 20 1t such a cost
Now il cannot. believe, be successfully
gainsaid, that al this is due 10 the sunday
newspaper. Apart from IL, these things
need not be. However the work done in
newspaper Offices may be distributed, the
hrnnt OF the blame must rest on the extra
issue, and that IL Sundays issue,
Abolish it and you make the abolition of
Sunday newspaper work possible in
most cases and FOR the most part a de.
ssderasam so manifest that our Ledger IT,
self, even when pleading for the SUNDAY
uswsrssr,er asserts ssft Is the testimony
OF human experience, on abroad scale. tia
people need \ day Of rest once week. -
True. o Lcsgeri Therefore We object TO the
sunday edition OF the daily newspaper.
The Loisrrs offensive defense of the sun
day paper has really SO many Ene grains
of wheat mixed among its chat that
must needs pick cut and sxhinit another OF
them. Here 10 is: mo Intelligent man
doubts that Sunday ought % he entirely
different from week days. SO that the mind
could ret an absolute rest in a change from
the contemplation OF weekday affairs.
Men and women and children are
better physically. IS well as socially and
morally, IL they arc brought under elsvat-
ing influences en- enc day IN seven. Most
excellent ard most true so excellent and
true that we object 10 the sunday news
paper the tao-e vehensenssy on account OF
il. Fer these weekday affairs are the very
things which the sunday newspaper pre-
seats for contemplation. Ii may contain
q column, or even ra-s ~ times. OF re-
hgicns and moral reading matter. bar the
bulk Of IT'S coatsats is a. the best secular.
Al the best II rises no higher than the low
plasss Of everyday hfs. And when not