The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1894-06-07
ONE IDEA OF JUSTICE.
Editor OF TIE TRIBUNE.

Editor or THE TRIBUNE:
DEAR SIR-lnasmuch as your columns
have been open to the discussion OF the
Sunday question, take the liberty of tres
passing upon your space with the hope
that my views on the subject may direct
thought in an hitherto unexpected chan
mel. 1t is unnecessary to recite the statute
under discussion. Suffice it to say that
there is law on our statute books which
makes it misdemeanor to transact any
worldly business on Sunday, and that to-
day in the city Of Scranton large number
of men who are the leading digriteries of
the churches are zealously engaged In the
prosecution OF all men violating this law.
The statute is on the books and as long as
it is there those officers empowered by the
people to administer the laws have the
right to prosecute offending parties. When
law becomes obnoxious to people either
1t is repealed or it falls into iuocuous dc.
sueiude. Whether or not this law has be-
come intolerable to the people at large is
not at present the subject of discussion.
In fact it requires but little argument to
dispose Of that proposition, and the mo-
ment definition OF justice is reached the
solution has been found
The first question involved in the discus
sion Of this matter is: Are the men who are
devout believers in the scriptures commit
ting an error in interesting themselves in
the prosecution of those found violating
this law? To my mind the answer should
be in the affirmative, and SO great is the
error and it is traught with consequences
so serions that it is impo to under.
estimate them. Intolerance and fanatic
ism are tho surGtt roads to ruin
that any religion can adopt. This
fact is so potent that it is sheer waste of
time to multiply instances illustrating it.
Let us not attempt to lay the hattering
uuctiOn to orr souls that we live in an age
Of tolerance. There is only a difference in
degree and not in kind between the spirit
of TorQuemado and that of man of to-
day who insists that all men should think
as he does. Religion is always inclined Mt
the outset to use moral suasion to bring o
man 10 its views, but when that fails,
force is invariably used. How is it pOss-
ible TO persuade man to adopt the religi-
Gus views Of another by intoxicating in
him as a first lesson that it is absolutely
essential to use force to compel man to
believe with him. Let it be understood
that my remarks are wholly impersonal
and are made without Tancour. To me it
is a constant source Of amazement TO see
how men are constantly disregarding The
innate benefit Of ana act.
:. In order that we may more fully COM
prehend the situation as it is, let US for.
the sake OF illustration shift the scene Of
action from Scranton to some remote L.
land in the Pacific. Let us imagine that
there is little settlement there number
lug forty souls-thirty- strict believ-
ors in the Scriptures, and one uabeliever
The unbeliever is the proprietor of q small
shop, and on the first Sunday spent by til =
little settlement in its new home, the un-
believers place is open for business. The
thirty-nine believers are indignant, and
waiting upon their deluded brother insist
that he abstain from secular work on that
day. If the unbeliever in reply to that
informs the committee that he emigrated
to that island laboring under the impress
sion that his belief in God would not be
questioned, he will receive an answer
which the tabled acumen Of Philadelphia
lawyer would be unable to interpret. The
final result would be that the thirty nine
would insist that the one should not shock
them with his open disregard of the
Sabbath, and the one being in the
minority, would obey. Query: Is the method
used to bring the stray and erring lamb to
the flock good one In principle, that is
the action Of nine and thirty is denomi-
mated as harsh and intolerant, the re-
| suit is virtuous indignation. Let US re-
sort to our island for moment. A change
has taken place Attracted By reports of
religious tolerance three hundred seventh
day adventists have arrived, Saturday
comes and the forty original settlers arise
with the sun and proceed with their toll
The new arrivals gaze at each other with
amaZement. Unheard of sacralige. Toll
ing on the Sabbath. The matter must be
attended to. The thre hundred men
form committee and wait upon the forty
unbelieVinG settlers. They must not desc
crate the Sabbath, and the reason urged is
a most substantial one. 1t offends the eye
OF the three hundred seventh day adven-
lists. Can you hear the thirty-niue men
who gloried in compelling the. one unDe-
lever to outwardy conform to Their views
emit u shout. Intolerance Fanatacism
Would you deny us the right to worship
God on the day we see flt.
1t was intolerance Of this kind that lost
to Israel the spiritual rulership Of the
world. 1t was intolerance of this kind that
founded n Spanish inquisition, and it is
intolerance Of this kind that causes men,
| aye, even clergymen, to band themselves
together masking their true intention un-
der the hypOcritical cloak of patriotism,
calling themselves the American Pgotec-
| tive association. The rules OF absolute
| ethics are such that is impossible for man
| in his present imperfect nature to attain
such a moral attitude. Even Justice is
hardly within the grasp OF human COM
prehension, but some idea Of justice is in
| herent IN most men, priori, as ii were.
| Tho fOuOInrs Of thiG UOvarnrnaut I,naba "a
noble effort TO provide for justice. No
man has right to interfere with the ac-
| tions Of another when the actions OF the
| other are not in any manner limiting the
| rights OF the interferer. The right to wor-
ship God does not carry with it the right
| to compel Others to do the same or to COM
pei others to refrain from doing anything
| but watch the worshipper in the exercise
| OF his right. True religion does not con-
| template the conversion Of men By force.
How much more consistent would it be
with the teachings OF the founder of
| Christianity tor men instead of banding
themselves together for the purpose OF
y compelling men to do rs they wish, to at
\ tempt a reclamation of tho sinners by
moral suasion, and il, after strenuous and
repeated efforts, that cannot be accom-
| plished to leave them more in sorrow
than in anger" and to intercede with God
in behalf of their erring brothers, Religion
suggests this. Justice demands that no
man be interfered with who is not inter.
| fering with the rights of another. These
believe, are wholesome truths. They may
! hurt the feelings Of some, but justice ia in
l'exorable, and for her sake ask every man
10 lend his aid to repeal law which is q
travesry or her. NATHAN VIDAvER.
| Scranton Pa ,Tunob