St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1892-12-12
A TALK FOR LIBERTY.
Mass Meeting to Enter a Pro-
test Against Closing the
Fair Gates.
Sunday Closing Countenaneed
by Congress a Menace TO
Freedom.
Il. F. Phelps Makes a Power
full Argument Against
the Clause.
A Comprehensive Review OF
the Danger Involved in
the Innovation.


religious matters, was the moving spirit
which brought large gathering oil
men and women to Odd Fellows hall
asst evening. Music and singing were
pleasant features of the meeting.
John j. Ryder presided, and, In OPEN
ng the meeting, stated that 1t is hoped
10 arouse in every state OF the Union
such a sentiment as will secure the re-
peal of the obnoxious clause i'll the
worlds fair bill. Internationally and
without compromise. He dwelt on the
Vital importance of arouSing the masses
Of the people TO the necessity FOR I'M
mediate action, in order to balk what he
termed the mean effort of bigots to foist
their opinions and beliefs into the law
Of the land. In closing. MIR. Ryder said
ne hoped to see the movement culmln-
ate in mass meeting that would tax
the capacity of any hall in the city, and
the sentiment was greeted with fer
vent amen.
A Powerful Discourse.
H. f. Phelps, state agent of the Ma
tional Religious Liberty association, de-
livered the address of the evening. 1t
was a powerful and comprehensive
argument, not only against the false
policy of closing the worlds fair gates
on Sunday, but against the danger
attending action by congress on matters
of religion. He began by saying that
those who are lmbued with the spirit of
American institutions have no desire to
interfere with any nationality or creed,
and ask only equal Justice for ALL"
The incorporation of the Sunday closing
provision in the worlds fair act he re-
garded as the outcropping OF the hith-
erto Slumbering spirit of intolerance
and deSpotism that can mean only dan
ger to the republic.
1t is, said the speaker, violation OF
The constitution, which is distinct and
explicit on the subject. 1t is false
triumph of fanatics, not a moral victory
Of Christian people. The american
Sabbath" so speciously pleaded for by
its promoters, is term coined for the
occasion, with nothing Of Sanctity about
it. Such enactmentS, If allowed to
stand, must ultimately lead 10 union |
of church and state that would be Oh |
nOXiOuS to every human being who |
holds sacred the blessings of absolute |
civil and religious liberty.
The movement which eliminated in |
The enactment of that clause is akin to |
the spirit which placed upon the statute |
books of the early colonies
The SO.CaIIeG Blue Laws,
which enabled the bigots of those times |
10 cruelty whip Baptists, hang Quakers |
and burn witches. Though many of |
these laws are still on the statute books, |
they are dead letters. There is one, | |
believe, still unrepealed in the District |
Of Columbia. which provides the death |
al fx for Of fh, Of
The week; and it men could be found to
enforce it we would have the spectacle
of people being hung for difference Of
opinion. The constitution guarantees
certain inalicnable rights to all men, and |
the people have always retained certain
other rights. Among these is freedom
Of belief. No man is to be governed in
his belief or disbelief, in his Christianity |
or atheism, by the conSciences of courts, |
or jurieS, or congresses, but solely by |
his own conscience as he sees the light |
For his faith, or lack of it, he is to be |
Judged at the bar of God, not at the bar |
Of the state.
Mr.. Phelps quoted from the gospel of |
John in favor OF freedom Of belief. The !
spirit of bigOtry will grow, if counte-
nanced, said he. There is iniquity in |
the scheme to violate the spirit of the |
constitution for the benefit of any relig- |
tOus sect or idea. Eventually it would |
lead to enactmentS to punish disbeliev- |
ers for alleged violations of the law of |
God. Then who shall interpret that |
law? The majority. it may be said. |
That means
Personal interpretation;
and the few, though their views and |
life be as worthy, or more so, in the |
sight of God. would be compelled to
yield their convictions to despOtiSm per- |
sOnified. Courts, judges. juries and |
congress would be called Oh to decide !
matters sacred between man and the |
Creator. The movement is growing be- |
cause of its deceitfulneSS; because it's |
promoters quote Scripture and pervert |
the application, deliberately misleading |
unthinking people.
Taking up another branch of the sub
Ject, Mr.. Phelps maintained that such
legislation would lead to the establish |
ment of a theOcrdcy-governme of the
people by political authority vested in
self-conStituted representatives of the
Deity. EZekiel's remuneration of the
diadem was quoted in this connection,
ana the speaker said Christ himself had
spoken against it when he said his king
dom was not of this world. Similar
legislation had been the Scourge of
ing free conscience. Those who favor
such laws would make Christian oath
the test for Office, yet Abraham Lin
coin, III taking the oath as president,
refused to use the words 80 help me
God" as being against the letter of the
constitution. National reformers call
the constitution compact of political
atheism, and say it should be repudi-
ated. The American congress fell in
with their views. and did repudiate that
much glOrified instrument when they
enacted the Sunday closing clause;
when they made the first surrender of
the liberties of the people.
Petitions and Matt Quay.
Taking up the matter of the petitions
presented in favor of the step. the
speaker showed their sponsors in an un
envable light. He deplored the fact
that noble organizations had been capt
ured for bigotry. Congress, said he,
was coerced by threats of political boy
colt by church societies, and all who
would vote for the surrender of princi-
pie were assured that they would be re-
elected, whether good, bad or indiffer-
ent. GLORIOUS Matt Quay, sending a
= Bible to the clerk of the senate, with a
passage marked to be read in justifica-
ton of the clause, is fair indication of
the Inspiration governing its support
ers. A majority OF congress voted in
dread, and sold liberty, so far as they
could,to secure reelection. The speak
er closed with fervent appeal to all
to rouse the people to the danger
There are men under arrest today, said
he, Tor difference of opinion as to when
they shall work and when they shall
rest, and it becomes the duty of every
citizen to do what in him lies to combat
The spirit OF this invasion of popular
liberty.
At the conclusion of the address the
chairman offered resolutions in favor of
the unconditional repeal of the clause
in the worlds fair bill to close the gates
on Sunday; also requesting the papers
to print petitions looking to the same
end. The GLOBE has been running
such petition for weeks back. An
other meeting will be held at Odd Eel
lows hall next Sunday evening, for