The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1893-01-20
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PARIs, Jan. 4.-rhe Sunday question
10 almost as live a topic in leading
European nations as it has been for
aome time in the United States But
over here the agitation and trend are
decidedly favorable to a stricter OBJ
seryance ofthat day, whereas the Ctamor
Of large classes in our mixed American
population is Tor changes in the oppo-
site direction. Viewing the day solely
in It's civil aspect as day OF rest, the
difference between Europe and America
seems to be that on this side Of the At
lantic there isgan effort to realize the
very conditions which on the other side
are in danger Of being wantonly given
up, So marked are these opposite ten
4 denotes that, assuming their indefinite
continuance, itIis not impossible to inn
agine time when Sunday will find in
European lands it's most jealous cham
pions, and in America q state OF things
the precise counterpart Of what has
seemed to the American mind, as We
have observed 1t la others, an example
Z to be deprecated and Stunned.
This new putting Of the status OF
Sunday in Europe will awaken surprise
In many quarters, and to those who are
ignorant OF the latest developments
over here, it will be 80 much OF q nov
eltyt they will hardly BIO able to
credit it. The average American We
venture to believe, thinks Of Sunday on
the continent as hopeless cause, a day
secularized quite beyond remedy, an in.
stitatioa with no friends to light Tor ~
and with scarcely enough vitality In 1t
to provoke q discussion. We even sus.
pect that this view Is held in q mild
form by not a few who have had the adj
vantage OF continental travel. The
Americans who visit Europe are here
usually only as sightseers, With rare
exceptions, they scarcely every inquire
about institutions and laws, seldom
penetrate beneath the surface ofthings,
and as for theoSabbath, 1t is notorious
that very many American tourists
seem so fully convinced that nobody
over here cares for 1t that they cease
very soon to chow any regard Tor 1t
themselves. Spite OF all, however,
there Is such q thing as Sabbath OBJ.
seryance even on the continent OF
Europe, and IL will interest and crafty
the better class OF your readers-espe-
cially the working classic be assured,
by one who has investigated tho sub
ject, that in France and Germany the
day Is so much better regarded than 1t
used TO be as to afford reasonable hope
that it will become eventually, II not a
strictly religious holiday, at least q day
onwhich allbusiness and labor Will be
suspended.
In Berlin at the time we write tho
Sunday question is the question Of the
hour. One thing which shows this is
the zeal OF those who stand up for the
old order OF things. In his lecture at
the university few days ago Professor
Won Treitschke, the great Prussian his
torian, digressed from his theme to say,
with pronounced emphasis, 1--WE don't
want the American Sunday; we'are sat-
listed with the German Sunday" I'M
doubtedly many Of the people are satis-
fled; but some are not, and this is nota-
bly, the case with those to whom the
German Sunday has been heretofore q
day Of toll, with nothing to distingaish
It from other days. Not only are the
latter dissatisfied with the German
Sunday, but their complaints have
found potential expression, and have
been incorporated within recent months
into a law OF the Reichstag.
This law makes long strides toward
the prohibition in Germany OF all Sun
day labor. II affects factories, work.
shops, Offices, stores, and almost every
other place either OF manufacture or
merchandise In many departments
Sunday labor must be stopped al
together, and II must be brought down
to the minimum in every department.
Such is the new law in Germany. Its
effects in Berlin are very marked. The
shops can now be kept open not more
than Eve hours on Sundays, and ono Of
the best evidences that German au'
thorities are earnest in this reform is
that the police so far have tearlessly
done their duty. The trader may choose
his own time, but the hours he selects
must not DO from ten to twelve, nor
from six to seven, because these are
church hours, when everything must
be shut up. Another requirement is
that the shop keeper, having chosen his
time for Sunday opening, must report
the same to the police, and have their
sanction with proper record at police
Headquarters. This makes 1t easier for
these officials to see that the new law is
properly regarded.
II is quite true that these conditions
are not ideal The reform indeed Is a
very partial one, and when II 10 remetn-
bered that these new regulations do not
aaectin the least the ever-pryileged
drinking saloon, the situation becomes
more unsatisfactory still. But the new
regime is decided improvement over
the one it gppplants, and however far
this movement may fall short OF what
isneeded, itcertainly indicates progress.
One has TO remember, however, that It
is mot a religious movement either in
its origin or intent. II 10 quite tn har'
mony with religion in go lar as II re.
Btricta from Sunday labor and stlspenda
business on that day. But the enact
ment OF this law we have boeti assured,
was not In the least duo 10 any action
on, the part Of the churches or to any
desire to keep Sunday as holy day, Il
10 strictly q working class reform. II
originated, in tho demand Of this class
for o day Of rest from secular toll, aud,
aaall are agreed, II was taken up by the
government largely as matter OF poll
on, because II was pushed 80 urgently
BY that growing party In German poll
tics knownias the Social Democrats,
In regard to France, II one may judge
OF the nation generally by what 10 ob.
yioua in Paris the improvement here 10
littlO less marked than In the dotniniohH
oil The kaiser With this difference
hoyteVor. that the changes in the former