Bismarck weekly tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, Dakota [N.D.]) 1884-1943, 1893-05-19
THE DAILY
LET THE GROUNDS BE OPENED on
ID

LET The GROUNDS BE OPENED on
SUNDAY.
The question CT the opening of the
Worlds Fair grounds on Sunday has
been again revived, and simultaneously
with the declaration of the directors
that the grounds can be opened on Sun
day without interfering with the provis-
ion that the government buildings and
exhibits must be closed, come protests
and walls from various Sunday closing
societies, who want buildings, exhibits
and grounds closed up tight on the first
day of each week.
Could the persons who are SO wild in
their eagerness for Sunday closing
advance one good reason in support of
their demands. there might be reason
for taking second thought in the matter.
Were they actuated by any motive but
that of religious prejudice, could they
support their demands by any argument
which might prove some good to result
from Sunday closing, their protests might
be we'll needed and considered. And that
the mere question of prejudice should
enter into the consideration of one of the
most important questions in connection
with an undertaking SO practical as the
Worlds Fair-that of Sunday opening
seems almost beyond belief.
To those persons whose ideas of relig-
ion-the Christian religion-will not
permit them to enjoy themselves on the
Sabbath, it need only be said that
their attendance upon the fair on Sum
day is by no means compulsory. At
tendance upon the Worlds Fair is moth
ing more, nothing less than an amuse-
ment and enjoyment, and instructive at
that. 1t is an enjoyment which is not
open to the workingman during the day.
time, for six days each week. And that
he should be deprived of it upon the
only day whereon he has opportunity
for a visitation of the grounds, and when
he has time sufficient to look about him
is unjust, and can be justified by no
argument in the premises.
Closing the fair on Sunday merely
adds to the of fakes, side
shows, saloons, dance halls, and the
other parasites of the exposition. The
people who congregate each week in
Chicago, must have some means of
Willing away the Sundays. They are
not all of that class, whom the attend
ance of churches twice each day will
satisfy. They go to Chicago to be en-
tertaiDed and amused extraordinarily,
and if they are denied the privilege of
looking upon the exposition, they will
look upon other and more contamina-
ting a~musements. The argument is q
practical, and not a theoretical one.
While, theoretically. the closing of the
fair on Sunday might be desirable as a
tribute of respect to the one who has
permitted the perfection Of an exhibit of
80 %stupendous a character as the fair, the
practical end of the matter more than
balances the theoretical and demands
that the grounds at least be opened.
Again, if it be said that Sunday open.
ing will enforce labor upon the thous-
ands of employees, why not, on the same
principle, close the Chicago hotels, as
they employ thousands of laborers, who
must work on Sunday? Why not stop
all railway traffic? The opening of the
fair on Sunday is al great a necessity
from a moral standpoint, as the open
ing Of hotels, and the operation of rail-
ways is necessary from a business stand.
point.
Let the Worlds Fair grounds, at
least, be opened, on Sunday, May 31st.