Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1893-07-27
Sunday as Sabbath.

A week ago some of the law abiding
and order loving citizens of Chicago
called Oh the Mayor of that city with a
petition claiming to have $1,000 sigma
lures asking to have the 1000 saloons
Of that city closed on Sunday. The
Mayor received them courteously but
virtually declined to attempt the Job.
He said he was not obligated to enforce
either the State or z. S. laws, but he
felt himself bound to see only the city
ordinances enforced. These provide
that "front doors and blinds shall be
closed" He affirms GA law cannot be
enforced when public sentiment is
against It,"
This expression Of Chicago's Mayor is
| the significant fact that makes it OF
local interest right here in the Twin
Cities and throughout Wood Co. We
have laws enough to cover every case
of disorderly conduct, sinful infringe
ment on the rights Of good citizens, or
| wrongs affecting the public welfare.
But when a number of citizens array
themselves in aggressive warfare
against multitude to enforce strict
Sabbatarianism where public opinion is
largely in favor of the defendants, it
invariably proves a big job for whoever
tries it. While there may be no
question on the saloon closing on
Sunday, there is the question whether
it can be done and whether the outcome
viii justify the means employed. If
the intent of the law is enforced and
the front doors of our saloons and
down the most Objectionable features
are done away with 50 far as they affect
the rights of others. All Sunday
questions can be tried by the same rule.
We are fast becoming q cosmopolitan
nation, but not a Goddess nation, and
liberal thought that often degenerates
into license Of action is arrayed against
the old puritanical spirit that made the
blue laws possible There are large
class of honest, law-abiding people who
are arrayed against each other on the
Sabbath breaking question. They take
in christian, temperance, social purity
and humane society, as we'll as CT Irch
members among whom the difference
of opinion is marked.
The we'll to do man of ease, to whom
day off is an uncounted incident in
life, finds it difficult to harmonize with
the son of toll whose recreation, if he
has any, must be taken on Sunday.
Again, the owner of a horse and
carriage soon merges the use of it into
the daily necessities of life while the
bicycle rider is looked upon from the
heights as a Sabbath breaker The
intellectual athletes find rest and
endowment in Iazily swinging in a
hammock in the cool shade of trees
reading Ibsen's Dramas, Les Miserables,
or "Bab" and "Amber' in Sundays
paper, and denounce their less fortu-
nate brethren who swing the bat and
run and shout in the very spirit Of glad
thankfulness that the rest they need
has come in pleasant lines of action.
But meantime our churches are woefully
empty mornings and we see those
whom we missed from the altar out for
drive or a spin on the wheel,
onlookers at the ball game under shady
groves, or perhaps meet them at Lake
side or at hotel table. Who can judge
where to draw the line? If each must
follow the dictates of his own conscience
always respecting the rights of others
what will the outcome be? If we really
desire the good of the community; if
law and order and human happiness
are the high stakes We seek, the way is
| long and slow and difficult toits attain
ment. Force never did or never will
bring about revolutions. The divine
maker of the Law, "Honor the Sabbath
day and keep it Holy instituted no
boycotts, countenanced no prosecutions
and sounded no vengeful notes, but in
| loving and faithful service tried to so
| fill the lives of saint and sinner, jew
and gentle, that the groves which were
Gods First Temples should resound to