San Antonio daily light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1886-1907, 1893-03-27
PRO AND CON.
Reasons Why The Sunday Law
Should Not be Enforced.

To the Daily LIGHT
The Sunday law men have met in an
alleged mass meeting, but the mass part
of the meeting was deluSion and fraud
as none. except city and county officers,
who would not pledge themselves to en-
force the Sunday law were admitted.
The reason for this prohibition was the
fear that at real mass meeting where
the people were admitted, as they should
have been. without let or hindrance, that
tie proposed combination and resolutions
would have been significantly defeated.
The prudence of the managers of this
meeting far exceeded their Justice. AS it
was the audience consisted OF but from
200 to 400 people and many of these We're
not in favor of fanatcal or Sumputuary
laws. Taking 400 as the audience and
the population at $4,000 not one
in 120 inhabitants was represented, OF
course deducting females and children
that could take no part in such meeting.
The ring leaders and the now high muck
a-muck of the Sunday law movement
is j. r. Fleming. He is comparative
stranger and who apparently does not
understand the people among whom he
lives, and his principal followers are in
the same position All we know of him
is that he is a lawyer and was Master in
the Arkansas Pass railroad muddle, which
has not general commentator. Yet this
comparative stranger has the gall to tell
the MeXicanS and Germans that IL they do
not like Sunday law let them get up and go
back to their native countries. As far as
the MeXicanS are concerned this practical
ly is as much their native country as
Mexico, and as far as the Germans are
concerned, they have earned their citizen
ship by settling in Texas, enduring priva
tiOns, fighting the Indians, making the
land peaceabIe and inhabitable, and doing
a large share to build up the state, far
more than Fleming and his Sunday law
associates can or ever will do. 1t i'll be-
comes the Sunday law advocate to kick at
the Mexican and German citizens.
The Sunday law men admit that San
Antonio is great, orderly, and a model
city, but say the law says that saloons
should close upon Sunday. Now there are
other laws on the statute book that are
not enforced. Why? Simply because they
are provSionary, and to DE used when
In San Antonio it is true that the
Sunday law is practically ignored,
as it is in Galveston and in other cities of
this state, but where is the public injury
done. Are any churches hindered in the
exercise of their rights. any ladies or
men hurrahed, any undue drunkenness or
disorder on our streets any more than on
admit that San Antonio is quiet and or
derly on the Sabbath day, but the few
say that the vast ma iOrty enjoy them
selves different to what we do and we
would force them to do as we do. The
majority, however, think different and
are far more liberal and just. They say
we enjoy Sunday in the way that pleaSeS
us best and yOu-thC Sunday law men
can also enjoy Sunday as you think best.
We don't interfere with you and we don't
think that you should interfere with us.
This is just and logical and it is only the
fanatic or those who want to make pO-
litical capital that would object TO such
liberality.
The law is no terror save to a wrong
dOer and in the SO-callcd violation of the
Jaw no public wrong is really done. AS
the observance of Sunday is now in this
city there is no call for any law or order,
if there were | would be one of the first
to call for the enforcement of the Sunday
law. As it is we have cosmopolitan
population. One wants part TO enjoy
Sunday in one way, the other ia another,
and as neither interfereS with personal
liberties, or with public rights ! see no
reason why either should be interfered
with.
There are many laws of the city, state
and county that are not enforced because
there is no necessity for enforcement, and
If imposed would do more harm than good
That is why they ara practically void I'M
til urgency brings them into activity.
The Sunday law men admit our city
is great, orderly and lawful except that
it ignores theSunday law and it has failed
to show any good and tangiable reason
why the Sunday law should be enforced.
On all sides it must be admitted, they
are not in it and if they are wise. they
will follow their own Sunday inclinatiOnS
and leave their fellow citizens to do the
same. Even if it were necessary men
are not made sober or moral by acts of
the legislature, nor are they disposed
TO bow to fanatical and tyrannical die
tateS that are as NECESSARY and perSecu
tive. Texans love liberty, they
have fought, bled and died
for it. and will not bow the neck to the
few fanatics. who would bind them in the
chains of fanaticiSm. They act as men on
Sunday, as on week days, literally and
orderly, and want none to interfere with
their heagen-bOrn freedom and rational
pleasures. And that they are right, no
reasonable man will gainsay. UNOITsO.