St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1893-01-09
RELIGIOUS LIBERTY.
The Sunday Closing Clause of
the Worlds Fair Act
AssaiIcd,
And a Peculiar Decision of the
Supreme Court Holly De-
nounced.

y Wcll-dllSllueu iH6Olills WAS IIClu dL
Odd Fellows hall last evening, under
the auspices of the National Religious
Liberty association. The clause of the
worlds fair act closing the gates Sun
day was the special subject of attack,
but in the course of his remarks the
speaker of the evening, IL. f. Phelps,
took occasion to denouuce famous de-
cision of the supreme court, by saying:
That Sunday-closing act has been the
subject of discussion at former meet
ingS, but it was but the logical result
that might be expected to follow the de-
ciSion rendered by the supreme court
on the last day of February last. that
this is Christian nation" And Col.
Shepherd took that decision in his hand
and going before congress demanded a
Sunday law. As un-American as was
that decree of congress decreeing a
national Sabbath. this decision of the
court of last resort was more of an in
vasion of the rights of the people. 1t is
the province of the judiciary to inter
pref the law. and when that court inter-
pretS and says this is a Christian ma
tion," what more natural than that the
legislature should act in harmony there
WITH
And by the securing of that national
Sunday law they have boosted that they
hold the power of government III their
hands. And they propose to ask for
yet more and more. And why not?
1t IS but the logical result of once yield
ing to the demands of religious cor
p0ration organized for political purpose.
And once yielding we may expect to be
asked to follow OH TIL every institution
Of n, ol,1 oh. i,o dacida1 nd
enforced by the same authOrltily; for If
congress or the supreme court may de-
eide upon one religious question they
may decide upon all questions of a re-
ligious nature.
But, by what course of reasoning did
Justice Brewer come to his conclusion?
1t is of interest to note this. 1t was by
quotations from commissions" and
grants" and obsolete laws dug up
from the musty past. He first referred
to the commission Of Columbus by Fer
dinand and Isabella But these were
all Catholics. and he does not want to
establish the Catholic religion i'll
preference to the Protestant; so
he quotes from the grant of
Elizabeth, defender of the faith" to
Sir Walter Raleigh. Next, to the char
tiers from 1906 to 1911; and then the
compact Of the pilgrims on the May
flower, 1920. Next. from the old blue
laws and early state constitutions. And
the Declaration of Independence itself
is made to do service TO his un-American
decision. BY the same method he es-
IablIshes the Christian oath and the
belief in the Deity as a qualification for
office or trust under the United States.
This is i'll direct violation of that part of
the conStitiOn which declares that mo
religious test shall ever be required as
a qualification, etc." And by reference
and quotation from law of 17S0 he es-
tabilshes the right of the state TO sup
port q state religion. and the payment of
religious teachers by public taxation,
as well as the right of exercise of the
civil power i'll church discipline. He
next declares the constitution itself all
ecclesiastical document" Was there
ever greater perversion of the En-
gliSh than to say that the constitution
was designed to establish no other re-
ligion than the Christian religion? AS
yet we see but one thing lacking 10
make this living image OF the paSt.and
that is an Endorsement of national Sun
day laws.
Thus it is that the court Of last resort
has interpreted tie supreme law of the
land to declare in favor OF the Chris
tian religion as against all other relig
ions. And next the question will be
raised as TO which of all the varied
phases and multiplied Sects is to be re-
garded as possessed of the Christian
religion. All this is uD-Amprican and
unconstitutional. 1t is Il reversal of
the purposes of the trainers OF the ma
tional constitution, who did purpose
and intend that there should be no UNI
ion OF church and state iii this country.
They did intend that congress should
never i'll any way legislate upon relig-
ious questions. In all this there is
seen reputation of the foundation
principles of the government. The
time Is long past when the American
people denied the doctrine of 1.-THE di-
vine right of kings" 10 rule. But there
is implanted iii every mans breast tile
diyin- right TO dissent from the opinion
of every religious DOGMA or belief. 1t
is the right of the American citizen to
dissent from decisions OF courts and
acts OF congress where they Invade the
realm Of conscience.
AT tie close of the meeting the follow
ing resolutions were adopted:
Resolved, That wa regard the spirit of re-
ligiOuS legislation. as Indicated IN the more
than score OF bills partaking OF a religious
nature already offered i'll congress at its
present session. as dangerous to our national
safety: and, therefore.
keSolyed. That we respectfully request our
representatives i'll congress assembled, that
they throw their influence against all Lills
that SAVIOR of being or parlnkirg of a religious
nature. and being religious legislation.
1t WAS unahihou ,ly Decided that a
meeting be held every iOur Weeks III The
5aile place.