The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1895-06-19
to disfranchise the negroes On masse as
a Columbia State, June 12.
which Shall It BE !

DEAR MIR. EDITOR: The citizens of this
community are brought face to face with
an issue vital to our professions OF Chris
tiapity. It is high time that we were
settling the question as to whether or not
religious principles are to govern us.
IF 40, let every Christian man and woman
500 to it that their hearty support Is given
to the ordinance recently passed by our
Council, prohibiting secular work on the
Sabbath. If not, the sooner we under
stand that to become Christian forfeits
all rights of citizenship, then tho better
for all concerned.
Were we living under an absolute mon
archy, we would not be responsible for the
laws by which we are governed, but in
land where the government is "of the
people, for the people, by the people,"
every man is lawmaker to the extent of
his ballot and influence, and to that ex-
tent Is he responsible for the laws by
which he and his fellow.citizens are con-
trolled. We cannot shake off this respon-
sibility. The voters have the power of
saving what shall be the character of the
laws under which they live, and fearful
power 1t is. All the acts of men are
either right or wrong. In this country
we profess to have but one standard of
right, and that standard is not the opinion
of the public, neither the desires of any
man or set of men, but it is the Word Of
God. This Word strictly forbids the
prosecution of secular business on the
Sabbath day. Our laws and our conduct
alike must conform to this standard If we
would have the Divine approval. Again,
what is right for one is equally 30 for
another. Now it is either right or wrong
to traffic in any ordinary business on the
Sabbath-leaving out the questions of
mercy and emergency. Fit be right for
day, then tbs hardware dealer has the
90 me right to open up his place Of busi
ness and sell plows and machinery. Ifit
be right for the livery stable to run its
business seven days in the week, 1t Is
also right for the grocery man to do the
same thing. If it be right for barber
shops and soda founts to remain open on
Sunday, then let the dry goods stores be
thrown open also, and let the Square wear
the same aspect ON Sunday that it does on
the other six days Of the week. Let us
not do things by halves The issue Is
brought squarely before Us. Our little
city is to be governed according to God
or according to the Devil. Right must
rule, or wrong run ram pant over every
principle Of righteousness. It rests with
the Christian people OF our city to say
which it shall be.
Our Councilmen have set the pace.
Shall we sustain them? or shall we re-
mand them to the rear and let godlessness
run riot?
Both the law of God and Of the State
make provision for works Of necessity
aud mercy on the Sabbath. Does any
one suppose our Council possessed Of 30
little sense as to undertake by their ordi-
nance to set aside the Statute Of the State
and the law of God?
Why, then, is all this ado made about
some things that may be necessary on the
Sabbath, unless it be to becloud the issue
and attract the attention of the people
away from things covered by the law to
things which are not even limited at?
The only objection have to the ordi-
nance is, that It isu'tquite strongenough,
but it is vastly better than none. say
all honor to our worthy Council and I
call on every Christian in the city to
stand by them in the strict enforcement
of the law. Yours sincerely,
g. P WATSON,