Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1892-11-16
Sunday and the Columbian Exposition.

When the question of closing the Worlds
was frs, broached the Joi nNt ~ took strong
ground in favor of such action. We be-
lieved then that there could be no just
objections to this course. We confess tina,
subsequent considerations have omewhat
moderated our views upon this matter.
We have found that the advocates of Sun
day opening have forcibe reasons for
urging their views, reasons which, if not
accepted as sufficient ground for the course
they sustain are at least entitled to re-
spectful hearing and candid consider
Jealous advocates of Sunday closing are the
saloon keepers and the proprietors of gamb-
ling dens and low resorts The motive that
inspires these men in their assumed advo-
cacy Of sabbath sanc,ity is ,ootransparent to
deceive anyone. They recognize the truth of
the old a,iage that ldleness is the Devils best
friend. and that having once secured the
closing of the big fair ground gates upon
Sunday they are assured u golden harvest
upon that day, They are not selfish.
Indeed they are quite willing that the
exposition should have the big crowd six
DAYS in the week if il will only turn it over
to them on the seventh Chicago is one of
the largest cities on the continent-it is al
so reputed to be one of the wickedest. II
is therefore an open and serious question
whether OF not the cause of Christian mo-
raity would or would not be advanced by
the closing of the great exposition on the
Sabbath day A second and forclhle pro-
test against Sunday closing comes from tn.
big army of working men and women within
few hours reach of the fair grounds,
holiday as well as his day of rest. 1t is
the only day upon which they will be free
to view the wonders of the exposition. The
remaining six days of the week the must
work for their daily bread Why they ask
should their more fortunate fellow citizens
seek arbitrarily to deprive them of the
chance to enjoy the big fair? VIII it not
be an education to all who visit it, and is
not education elevating: Who eau deny
the force and the pertinency of this plea
Then there are the complications grow
ing out of the organization of show
of such cosmopolitan character,
which would render il difficult and perhaps
embarrassing to suspend operations one day
in every seven. This, however. is a minor
consideration, as is also the sordid enc of
the financial loss to be entsiled by such
course. The advocates of Sunday closing
are moved by the high and noble purpose to
maintain the Christian sanctity of the
Lords day upon an occasion of world wide
interest and in the sight of the nation. The
motives that actuate them are high and
noble; but it is worth while to ask in all
seriousness, whether or not the end they
seek can be best attained by the course of
action they so earnestly and conscientiously
advocate. II is useless to deny that there
has been q revulsion of feeling upon this
matter since it first crystalized into public
purpose. Many who at first advocated it
have changed their minds or, at least,
greatly moderated their views. Prominent
cieryymen in various sections of the coun-
try have advocated the Sunday opening of
the big fair from their pulpits. So much
for the present status of this matter. L,
may be that both sides have been
led by their enthusiasm to extreme
views upon the subject. Perhaps
the old Roman motto "A middle
course is the safest may suggest the wisest
solution of the whole problem. 1t is, at
any rate. the one which has been adopted
By the exposition Management. The big
fair viii Be opened for inspection on the
SabAsth day but iss active operations, lis
naeAinefy md its various manufactures
win Be suspended. Iss exhibits. however.
I'm b big object lessoa 70 al observers
- yin not fail 70 szrss : wholesome and
Nesting intluence. VIA csn ssy that. sitter
n, ~ visesl solusion Of IL Sun1sy clos
'ns pro6leQ hes noe been found