Mississippi leader. (Jackson, Miss.) 1892-1895, 1894-09-11
Criminal Completely.

imprisoned or torn from their
homes and driven into exile there
would be general cutlery and
uprising for their defense. And
this would be right. But there
are more than this number in
this country who are being re-
Quired to sacrifice their conscience
and their souls at the heartlcss
demand of organized and en-
trenched greed. Do you ask what
we mean! We mean simply this:
Men in the employ of several of
the chief lines of industry, nota-
bly, railroading and daily news
paper publishing, are forced to
ceaseless Sunday toll or to join
the ranks of the unemployed and
hungry and shelterlcss who beg
for bread.
1t is to say that this is Il free
country and if they don't want to
work they can give up the job.
This while literally true is vir-
tually false. Take laboring
man with wife and several chill
dren to provide for. They are
poor and own no home. He is
railroad engineer, understands
this work, knows nothing else.
When he has constant employ
ment Sallie and the little ones are
housed and clothed, well fed and
cared for. But he has no money
ahead. Beginning Monday morn
ing he does good weeks work
and Saturday night retircs to rest
contented and happy. He prom
Uses himself and family good,
sweet Sabbath of rest and spiritual
profit. They expect to attend
Sunday school and church. He
feels the need of rest for his body,
invigoration for his mind and
spiritual food and renewing for
his soul. O how sweet the pros
poet of the blessed Sabbath privi-
legcs to this honest toiler.
But Sunday morning he is
aroused at 1 o'clock with the an
nouncement that passenger train
No. 4, due to leave at 6 A. NJ.
must be on time and he must car
ry her. In vain does he plead
the fact that he has already done
six days work in the week; the
seventh is demanded" "But |
do not believe in Sunday work;
| am trying to live right and save
my soul. All this avails nothing
''Ihe train must 90, sir; and you
may surrender your job and 90
forth penniless and unemployed
or be at your post on time
Conscience strives, the command
of God stares him in the face, it
is one of the Ten; but hunger and
want rise up before him. He
thinks of the coming rent bill,
bears in mind the monthly pro-
vision account, thinks of various
obligations and necessary expen-
ditures. He yields to the pres
sure of necessity and goes forth
to hard toll.
AS the train passes station af-
ter station he sees congregations
gathering and dispensing, hears
the bell calling the people to Sun
day school, preaching, Christian
Endeavor, song service, etc., and
his heart aches to join the good
wife and little ones at home in
the place of prayer and praise.
But no such privilege is his. He
thinks of these things and his
heart grows hard and bitter.
By-and-by he sees a familiar
facet is a preacher whom he
has always loved, trusted and
honored. He has heard this min
ister exhort the people to love
God and keep his commandments.
But behold the clergyman emerge
from the depot valise in hand
md board the train. Our engi-
lcer begins to think on this wise: ]
This railroad is run for money:
he owners and managers have no I
Tod but gold; though, forsooth,
omc of them are church mem 1
'crs and hold official position;
mt they evidently do not care t
whether / go to the devil or not, t
0 they can coin money from my t
weat. But that preacher pre- {