Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1892-11-24
SUNDAY AND THE WORLDS FAIR.
Some Reasons why the Great Exhibition
should be- Erpt Continually Omen.

Some Reasons why the Great Exhibition
should be- Isrpl Continually oren.
! New York Times.
The directors of the Columbian Ex-
| position, who have adopted d resolution
in favor Of opening the Worlds Fair on
Sunday, are representatives Of the
corporation organized under the laws
of the state of Illinois which has had
the care and responsibility Of preparing
| for the exposition and must bear the
| financial burden of the undertaking.
| Their resolution is to be taken as an
expression of opinion as to what is best
and most desirable for the success of
the fair. The regulations under which
it is to be conducted are under the con.
troll, not Of the Exposition Company,
| but of the National Commission, which
| derives its authority from the national
| government, but is equally interested in
the success OF the enterprise. The regu-
lation adopted by the commission for
closing the gates on Sunday wG.s entirely
due to the fact that the government APP
preparation toward the general expenses
and for the diplomas and medals ms
well was made upon condition that the
| grounds and buildings be closed against
the public on Sunday and could not be
accepted without the condition. The
management has, in fact, been coerced
in this important matter by the Congress
Of the United States.
We have heretofore more than once
set forth the reasons which seem to us
conclusive why it will be every way
| better for the moral and spiritual we'll
| being, as well as for the physical COM
fort and mental condition OF the visitors,
TO have access to the exposition on Sun
day as freely as on other days. 1t is to
be remembered that jackson Park is
several miles out from the business
centre and the principal hotels of Chi
cago, and during the exposition il will
be almost city in itself, and most in
| teresting one, combining the character
istics and attractions of many lands and
many peoples. There WILDE numerous
buildings there besides those containing
the systematic displays of the products
OF art and industry. 1t is suggested
that religious services may be held in
| behalf of people of various lands and
races, and Of different faiths. There
may be meetings for moral and ethical
| instruction and discusslon,and there may
be gatherings of Il more or less social char
acterat the special buildings provided by
| different nations and different states of
! the Union. In fact, there are many
| special and altogether beneficial pur-
! poses to which Sunday may be in part
devoted at tine exposition, which would
be neglected or sighted if that day
should not be avilable for ihem Besides,
there is no rational ground for exclud-
ing. visitors from the privilege of seeing
and studying the exhibits themselves on
that day, while there are many, especi-
ally OF the working class, who would
nave no other opportunity OF benetiting
by it at all. The considerations con-
nected with the financial success OF the
exposition are the least important, but
so long as other considerations are so
strongly in favor of sunday opening,
the managers should have the advan-
tage of the substantial increase in re-
ceipts which it would certainly bring.
According to our view, to have the ex-
position closed on Sunday would be
wicked, and if done as the result of
government action, it would be almost q
national crime.
We have no doubt that the action of
Congress in imposing this condition
upon the aid granted by the Govern
ment was taken under complete mis-.
apprehension of the sentiment of the
country on the subject. In fact, public
sentiment was not intelligently formed
at the time, and the petitions which
were sent to Congress were based upon
a hasty and ill-considered view of the
practical effect OF Sunday closing or
Sunday opening. There had been no
general discussion of the matter, no
consideration OF what the action asked
for really meant; it was merely the old
traditional prejudice on the subject of
strict Sunday observance that found
expression. Members of Congress either
believed that this represented the senti-
ment of the country, which is doubtful,
or they feared that it had sufficient force
to affect the political fortunes of those
who might disregard it, which is more
likely. But since then there has been
good deal of rational discussion of the
subject, and it has been shown that the
best sentiment Of the country is opposed
to the action taken by Congress. Besides,
the elections are over now, and all
ground for political timidity has been
removed. Congress is TO meet again in
a few weeks, and one Of its first acts
should be to withdraw the restriction,
which threatens to hamper and embar-
rass some of the best plans of the mana
gers Of the Worlds Fair, and to inter
fere seriously with the bcnitits that
might be derived from it. There
should be such demand for this action
as will leave no room for doubt as to
the actual condition ofpublic sentiment.