Idaho semi-weekly world. [volume] (Idaho City, Idaho Territory) 1875-1908, 1893-05-30

IN the canyon that the snow slide
passed through, and it probably swept
the last one Of them to destruction.
This has been about the 6rst snow
slide Ct any importance that has oc-
cured in this section for years, and
the only one / have heard of this
year. WooDTIcK WILLlAns.
SUNDAY OPENlNG SETTLES.
1t was definitely decided on the
25th to keep the Worlds Fair open |
on Sundays. Public sentiment was
SO strong on this question that the
pressure could not be o, ,ercome by |
fanaticism. Those who have made |
such howl against opening arc per-
fectly free not to attend. If, by any
possibility, circumstance or condition,
those who conscientiously uphold the
sanctity Of the Sabbath, would be
compelled to attend, and their liberty
of conscience thereby interfered with,
Sunday opening would not be in ac-
cordance with the principle of reli-
gious liberty. But such is NOT the
case. Religious freedom and person
al liberty were not At the foundation
of the opposition to Sunday opening,
but the reverse. Religion Is . mat
ter of conscience, and there is no re-
Iigious liberty unless all are perfectly
free to observe or not to observe any
and all religious days, forms or cere-
monies. The doctrine of Christ him
self was that government and reli-
gion were, or should be, separate and
distinct. The promotion of religious
observances by legal enactment can
not result otherwise than in failure.
/ By such enactments both religion
: and government are brought into
{ contempt and lose respect. No man
| was ever made pious by force, but
> force has the effect of lessening piety
, The argument of religious fanaticisu
: that this government ought to demon.
t strate to the world that its people an
;. Sunday observing people, are no
: sound. If by legal enactment the,
L.. do ~
f far as the Fair is concerned, it wouls
n prove nothing of the kind. 1t woll'
$ be said that they observe the day be
n cause compelled by law. But if lef
Q free to observe, or not observe Sun
1t day, and the great majority do the
It refrain from attending, that they hol
+ the day sacred will be positivel
l. proven. Again, Congress had n
right to name = day, = religious da.
,e to be observed. That is religion
at legislation. Many Christians hol
ID that Saturday is the Sabbath, an
s. they have all the proof, from Bib
e. standpoint, on their side. Sunda
,e was heather festival day, lncorp'
ne rated into Christianity to hold tho'
sunworshippers who became Chfi
. tisns, and who would not agree
give up their day. 1t was q conce
sion to heathenism-a compromi
:. day. When Congress took it up'
itself to decide which is the prop
- day for Christians and all others
;. observe and keep holy, it went CO
III siderably out of its latitude and owe
a leaped the boundaries laid down
"A the constitution. There will be o
,bs bad result, however. of Sunday ope
N, ing. The Presbyterians will vii
NO draw their exhibit. This will We
nc, probably crush the Fair. Whene'
,rv religion pleads with government
,ad put legal props under its structure
tho is an acknowledgment that religion
al. greatly in need of those props-tI
NJ. 1t can no longer stand of Its o
,sn strength. If, however, it were Il
md that props were needed, they wo
ne. do no good if put up by legal ens
a,v ment, for the reverence, that sol
;aa fies the structure, would vanish, 1
,,s it would then the sooner tumble
tho ruins Religious fanatics, in conn
..r ton with this Worlds Fair Sum
in question, have, in the undue and
lite temperate zeal of religious blindn
done the cause of Christianity
i. nd Sunday observance irreparable d.
inn age. Their fanaticism has inju
I'M, the cause they pretended to espo
,,,s The better class of Christians
,rh posed all legislation to mix relis
MID and government; that is, they
,ods tended that government has no r
ell to establish a creed, or form or da
observance; that matters OF this
- are matters of individual console
.h.. and that conscience should be
o,n, That is the true principle of civil
fac. religious liberty.