The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1892-10-05
Sunday at tho Worlds Fair.

To the Editor of the News and Courier:
Such is the seal oftte American sovereign
for the making and unmaking of laws
that only the couZse Of events and the
obsolescence Of public issues can give
assurance that anything is settled. Just
@ few months ago Congress passed an Act
closing the gates of the Worlds Fair on
Sunday. Now it is announced that
paper had been received, in an official
way, from Chicago, requesting that sigma
lures be obtained to petition to Congress
asking that this Act be repealed.
Such a suggestion looks like q serious
reflection on the dignity and wisdom OF
the 5lst Congress. There certainly can
not be spy reasons for this change which
were not urged when the Act was being
discussed on the floor OF the Capitol. The
plea that the Sunday closing will exclude
from the benefits of tho Worlds Fair
vast number of people to whom the in
struction to be derived is Of vital conso-
quence is certainly not new. The lapse
of few months has not given 1t any
additional force or pertinence. The Fair
has not been opened since then, 30 that
experience and facts could make mani
fest the unwisdom of the action OF Con-
gress. And it is by no means such GER
tainty that the Sunday closing would
have tho effect Of excluding any class or
large number Of people from the EXPOSE
ton.
The fight was made openly and fairly
sometime ago, and both the advocates and
opponents Of the Sunday closing had
abundant opportunity to be heard. The
voice OF q very large, influential and re-
spectacle portion of the constituency OF
the present Congress called for the Sun
day closing. Whole churches in their
representative bodies asked for it, and
monster petitions were sent to Washing
ton. It is safe to presume that the Church
and those voluntary and temporary asso-
Citations which arise through its agency
represent in their personnel not only re-
ligion and nominal Christians, but every
interest and every class Of people. Con-
gross had very clear and full expression
Of the popular will before it, and acted
accordingly. This movement for repeal
looks like the claim of "ths other side"
for another opportunity for fight.
And may not the writer be permitted
to express surprise that our good women
should have anything to do with further
ing this movement for repeal? Directly
and indirectly, in private and official
capacity, they have been so active in
securing the enactment Of the Sunday
closing law. Ever in their history, and
conspicuously since they have claimed q
larger sphere, have they been found
battling for social order and public
morals. Is the woman's department OF
the Worlds Fair management going to
disappoint the hopes Of the country, and
shock that confidence which they have
invited on the ground Of the high moral
character Of their purposes?
In all these pleas for Sunday opening OF
the Worlds Fair there Is an insinuation
that the Sabbatarians are not friends OF
the laboring classes. This cannot be
passed by unnotioed. We believe that
the Sabbath is one Of the Creators s best
gifts to all men, but particularly to the
poor and the worlds toilers. But the
Sabbath, in order to be great benefit or
q permanent institution among men,
must be kept in the spirit, and according
to the explicit law Of its establishment.
The laboring man Of all classes OF society
has most interest in preventing the secu-
larization of Sunday; for when it ceases
to be regarded as the gift of God and a
holy day, and stands on the mere popu-
lar consent to general holiday, wealth,
power and human law can easily abolish
It altogether.
In the gloom and straitness Of famine
and pestilence, Mr., Editor, the faithful
press appeals to ministers and churches
foraid. Why? Because 1t is well known
that the Church is the friend of the poor,
suffering and unfortunate. And again,
why? Because the fear Of the Lord and
the truest sympathy with mankind are
the twin auricles Of the religious heart.
And there can be no conflict between
Obedience to the Most High and any true,
good or legitimate interest Of men.
SUBSCRIBER.