Rock Island daily Argus., 1893-06-17

great encyclopedia of all that is
grand, wonderful, curious and beau
tiful in the world. II. then, the two
elements, the one of rest, the other
of worship, are to be found in their
highest perfection, in the influence
of the Worlds fair on those who come
within it, it cannot be said that even
the american Sabbath" (whatever
that may be) is violated by opening
it's gates on the first day of the week;
and upon this point, l repeat, those
only are qualified to speak, who.
having seen the fair and the people,
and seen them together on the day
which is said to be violated because
of their being together, can then
Judge if this be true or not.
The Question of Sunday Opening.
The question whether Sunday
opening of the fair is violative of the
Christian Sabbath is quite distinct
from the question of the good faith
of the directors in seeking to open
the gates after the enactment OF the
various acts of the national legisla-
ture touching the constitution and
control of the fair and the appropri-
ations or gifts to it. 1t is also quite
apart from the questions whether A,
b or c favor it, or whether the ma
jority of all the people desire 1T, or
whether the workingmen demand 1T.
l observe that some of the clergymen
do not observe the distinction in
their treatment of the general sub
iect l do not here assume to de-
fend the action of the directors, but
will suggest that impugning their
motives does not rise to the dignity OF
argument, and that to charge bad
faith against them is hardly tanta-
mount to demonstration. In one let
ter the subject is neatly disposed of
by the bland assertion that Ito open
the gates on Sunday is in violation
of state and national law" Author
tiles are not cited and argument is
evidently deemed superfluous. Now
as to its being violation of the state
law, / think the gentleman is clearly
mistaken. AS he does not attempt
proof or cite authority, 1T is sufficient
| to meet his affirmation with denial.
| Whether national law is violated de-
| pends upon the construction to be
| given to each of several complicated
| acts of congress In other words 1t
is nice question of law, upon which
| only profound constitutional lawyers
| are qualified to give an opinion OF
| anv value; and inasmuch' as two
| courts. learned in the law, have al
| ready rendered contrary decisions
| and able lawyers honestly differ
| about it, and the question Is now
| pending before one of the highest Ju-
| dic:a ibuuals of the land, it cannot
| be :. 10 be automatic, and the nm
| learnt n the law may well with
| hold exo essiou of their views until
| its final authoritative adjudication,
now near at hand.
| Visit 1t at all Events
Within the limits of newspaper
| letter the subject can only be touched
upon. In conclusion l say TO those
who have not visited the fair, don't
| fail to do so. Go for n day if you
cannot spend more time; 90 for
months, if you can afford the time
and expense. As school of instruc-
ton its equal never was ana cannon
| be found in the world today. If you
are opposed to Sunday opening and
| the fair shall be open on Sundays,
| don't be so blind and foolish as to
stay away altogether from the fair
on that account. The fair belongs
to the people. Its success Will be
national glory and triumph7 its finan-
cial failure a national disgrace and
| humiliation. If it, should fail for
lack of support from those who boy
colt it because of Sunday opening, 1t
| will do the. cause of the Christian
| Sabbath and of Christianity more
harm than can be undone in the next
| 100 years Respectfully,
| ADAIR PLEASANTS.