The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1895-08-06

The excellent article from the Jewish
South. which we print on this page. comes
very near putting the subject of Sunday
laws on their true philosophical grounds.
but 1, does not quite do so. 1t is perfect
~ right In wha; II says OF gambling and
selling liquor on Sunday. But the Jewish
South is not quite right In only giving
as the ground that the sunday law is TO
he upheld. the protection of those who
worship In their worship. though that is
one OF the reasons.
We have an express statute that for
bids persons disturbing people who are at
worship. but this statute rests upon the
general theory Of preserving the peace.
one set OF men have right 10 worship
on Sunday or Saturday or any other day.
and when they do worship no others have
a right 10 disturb them. II IS to protect
them in this right that this statute was
passed. But the statute so much dis
cussed now. what is called 1.-The Sunday
law" is another thing. and rests upon
a wholly different theory. That is
statute which forbids any work on sun
day except for charity or necessity II
that statute rested upon religious basis
1t would be unconstitutional and void.
Bni 1t does not. 1t rests upon the right
OF the Legislature TO prescribe one day
ont of seven as a day Of rest from labor
for the physical benefit of man. 1t Is
valid law when resting upon this basis
It would be void law If passed to compel
observance of the day as a religious
day.
In this view Of the case the Legislature
has a right TO prescribe any conditions
that IT thinks promotive Of the physical
well-being of men. 1t has no right TO
compel them to observe any religious
duty whatever. What may be wise laws
TO accomplish this end will be subject
OF serious considerable by our next Legis-
latnre in view of the fact that the con-
struction placed upon the present law has
been so extreme as TO be absurd \ man
on Sunday is allowed to come TO town
on the cars. but the baggage express Is
not allowed TO deliver him his trunk SO
that he can put on clean clothes. Or II
ne should carry travelling bag IN mis-
hand and thus get a clean shirt. he Is
not TO have his shoes cleaned.
Those who have brought about this
preposterous condition OF things In their
defence of the gamblers and Sunday
liquor dealers may fairly come under
the Scriptural description: aye blind
guides. which strain at a gnat and Swal-
low camel -
But this community now understands
the situation. and this fact Was
strikinely illustrated by the reso-
buttons adopted few evenings
back by the Good Tempiars District
Executive Committee Those resolutions
commended the Chief OF Police for MS
efforts to better enforce the laws de-
signed to beneht society by restraining
the source OF vice and immortality, cSpe-
cially. those laws relating TO the sunday
saloon and the gambling dens." ana tncy
also recognized that an element of oppo-
sition to the Chief Of Police. under the
garb OF friendship. was manfestns a
superServiceatle zeal IN behalf of law. the
real aim and object OF which was to force
such extreme and technical construction
OF the sunday laws as woaid cause a re-
vulslon OF popular feeling against the
whole Sunday law.
These resolutions show that these gen
tlemen perfectly understand the game
that Is being played. The most casual
CONVEX sation with any one YOU may meet
on the street will prove that the whole
community understands Il. The body OF
the people are not going to be IMPOSED
ON, therefore. by any shallow device OF
This sort