Idaho semi-weekly world. [volume] (Idaho City, Idaho Territory) 1875-1908, 1892-03-29
nALL THE WORLDs FAIR RE
CLOSED ON sUNDAYs


effort all over the Union to induce
the people to sign petitions for the
closlrg OF the Worlds Fair on SIM.
Gays. This is not at all surprising,
ior preachers are generally noted for
narrow views in regard to the inalien.
able rights Of Americans, and are
constantly endeavoiing to pry out,
with the lever Of fanaticism. the most
solld foundation stone on which stands
the grand structure of freedom and
liberty, and without which the struc-
ture would tumble, and liberty be a
thing OF the past in America. OF
course there are exceptions, and
among the more enlightened preach
ers are found those who favor no en-
forced religious observances, believ-
ing that enforced observances are
contrary to the spirit of our form Of
government, and we'll knowing that a
compulsory compliance in regard to
a church dogma does not and cannot
make converts to that dogma. Human
nature is such that the effect would
be the reverse. Conviction does not
grow out OF compulsory observances.
That is truth majority Of preachers
cannot grasp. Even if such were the
case, the principle is wrong. Reli-
gions are given all the liberty con-
ceivahie. They are free to practice
and preach any doctrine they please,
50 long as their practice and preach
ing are not in conflict with the laws
of the land. The theory Of this gov.
ernment, carried out to the letter, is
that all shall have perfect liberty,
within the laws, but that no law shall
be enacted establishing any religious
doctrine or practice. The idea is
that religion and government shall be
entirely separate-that neither shall
encroach upon the fights of the other.
But religions, it seems, will never be
satisfied with the liberties they enjoy,
but persistenlly continue to endeavor
to encroach upon the province OF gov
ernment with the purpose of securing
the reins and guiding the course of
governmental affairs-that is, to make
the government and church domina-
ton one, or, reduced to church math-
ematics, one and one make one, and
that one to be the church. They do
not expect to reach that desideratum
at one jump, but little by little, SO
that the people will surrender their
liberties in such small lots as to be
almost imperceptlble, and to call
forth but little opposition at each
step. They have labored necessarily
for and accomplished in many States
the first precedent. That is in the
enactment of Sunday laws. These
enactments, however, have not been
secured on the plea of ''religious OBJ
servance," but simply as physica
necessity. But the religious idea, the
idea that the laws shall force a rell
gious observance, is at the bottom o
it. and the motive of many advocate!
of Sunday laws is that there shall bt
a union of church and State, howevel
slight that union may be, and that
start is everything, and with that star
a further and frmer welding togethe
is the next step. A precedent results
in wonderful things, either for goo'
or evil. One precedent in violation
of law, although the law may o'
stretched but very little in order t.
establish it, gives an argument an'
starting point for further stretc'
of law for another precedent Still
further on. A step in a certain dl
rection is not much and a step fror
that step is not much, and so on t
the end. The churches have sue
ceeded in making the first step to
ward a union of church and State, b
presenting physical grounds for bring
ing church and State nearer togethe
and keeping the real motive for sue
a step nicely hidden and wrapped u
in the cloak of deception. Eterni
vigilance is the price of liberty" an
eternal vigilance is somethin
Americans must exercise or their Int
, critics will 60 little by little until wit
a nerfect union of church and Sta'
history will repeat itself on America
t soil. We need go no further bac
than the history of the colonies
!. study in all its cruelty and hIdeou
n ness such an unholy union. Lioer'
! and enlightenment has never bee
}, horn of such union, aud never will b