The herald. [microfilm reel] (Los Angeles [Calif.]) 1893-1900, 1895-10-03
SUNDAY DEsPOTIS1 AGAIN

An eminent writer on sociology has
written ''that the great political super
stition OF the past was the belief in the
divine right of kings; that OF the present
is the belief in The divine right of parlia-
ments."
1t is evident from a mmunication OF
the gentleman published in yesterdays
Herald that the Rev. W. G. Bowman is a
victim to the last named superstition.
In this communication Rev. Bowman
expresses at length and with vigor his
dissent from the contention made in
Herald editorial of last Sun day to the
effect that Sunday laws are un-Ameri-
can and un-democratic.
With that serene indifference to the re-
ations OF facts and the sequences of logic
yhich is the distinguishing trait of the
lchool of thought OF which our critic is
conspicuous leader. he tails in his entire
contribution to adduce a scintilla of evil
dence that would tend to prove or sem
tencs Ut argument that would demon
strate to the reasoning mind, that Sun
dav laws are either American or demo-
cratic.
But he does make it plain that they
might be of English or European origin,
ana that the principle on which they
rest, when considered apart from religion,
is monarchical or socialIstio in character.
The governmental principle which he
justiies and which would permit Sunday
laws or any other legislative tyranny
that supposedly omnipotent mai GRITTY
might will, is in its nature the very an
tithe OF Americanism ana democracy.
We did not contend that laws of the Sun
day brand were without precedent or that
they are not monarchical or socialIstic.
but we did hold, and so far as our cores
ponent is concerned our proposition is
undisturbed, that they are neither Ameri.
can in principle nor democratic in theory.
If the American principle Of individual
liberty, and the democratic theory of
government Of limited powers and public
functions are correct, then any legisla-
ton of the kind we are discussing is
externally and everlastingly wrons and no
exigenoy of the present, nor no possible
good that it might work in particular in
stances can justify its adoption. If on
the other hand the socialistic doctrines
that man is mere creature of the state
and that government of unlimited jul is
diction and all sorts of functions best fits
the needs of humanity, be right, then the
Sunday enactment may very appropriate
ly be placed with the multitude of enact
ments that would regulate, or attempt
to regulate, the ebb and flow of hum an
activities. appetites and am billions. But
a people must be consistent; they cannot
mental theory in part. They must take
it in its entirety, for good and for bad,
the lean with the fat. If the American
people cannot be moral, prosperous and
happy because of Individual moral and
mental defects, then the experiment OF
free government in this country is fail
ure and should at the earliest moment
place themselves under the paternal care
of some a3le-bodied monarch or with in
the restrictive control OF a sooialist;c oil
garchy.
We reiterate our statement that the sole
and only function of a democratic form
of government is the protection of people
in their natural rights. And a demo-
cratic government is the best because it
exercises the only function that a govern
ment should exercise, ana the necessity
for which gave rise to such thing as
government. The latter was not in the
begin ming intended to do things for the
people, but to SO protect them in the en-.
joyment of those ''inaliena BILE rights,
life, liberty and the pursuit of happi-
ness,' that they might do things for
themselves. 1t is true, because of popula
indifference or ignorance, the primary
functions of governm ants have been per
vertsd for ages. until they have assam {
powers entirely foreign to them, SO grad
ually and effectively that untold people
consider them the natural prerogatives o
the state. Hence the ample crop OF pro
hibitionists, Sunday law advocates anc
protective tariff disciples. Mr.. Bowman
buttresses his views on the rightful power
and objects OF governments with quota
tions from Blackstone. That the EN- n
emit English common Law commentato
was ever an expoun Ter of theories of gov
eminent or champion of popular liber
ties will be news to lots of people. Tn
impression has prevailed that he ex
pounued and elucidated the law as hi
found 1t, not as it should be. He was A.;
tocracy of Great Britain.
When he said that governments ar
established for the preservation of so
ciety," he meant society rs it was fas
tened down then. with the many as thu
fulcrum for the few. But even il we con
strue the quotation in the broad sense
the Rev. Bowman has in mind, d on ptless
what was this preservation of society foI
unless it be that its membe could EN-
their natural rights? If their woru
quoted are to be construed in the Tghtfr
sense it will amount to but another wa
of saying for the protection of people i
their natural rights When Blackston
said that the purpose Of civil law is t
command what is right and prohibi
what is wrong" Mr.. Bowman's othe
quotation, he made use of pretty fgur