Arizona silver belt., 1895-08-03
REuGIoUs PERsECUTIoN.

IL is almost incredible that in this enlightened year of our Lord one thou sand eight hundred and ninety five, and in our boasted free America, men are petsscuted for conscience sake, under color of law. Such, however, is true not only in one but in a number of states where laws remain in force on the statute books compelling the for nal observance of the so.called Sun day, or first day of the week, and de- nying the right to work on that day, It is only occasionally, though, that we are reminded of the survival of these relics of the Blue Laws of New Eng land.
 4 paper, The American Sentinel, came among our exchanges a day or two ago, the perusal of which made our blood boil with indignation The Sentinel is published fn the interest of religious liberty, and it's issue of July IS is devoted to recounting the trial and condemnation of eight exemplary citizens of Rhea county, Tennessee, Seventh-day Adyentists, for the offense of doing common labor on Sunday.
 Quietly, unobtrusiyely, these men were performing their customary TO- cations, when they were bounced upon by the niinions of the law and i'm prisoned, subsequently, tried, convicted, and who are now serving terrns in jail at Dayton, Tenn One of these men was sentenced to 75 days imprison- nent for no other offsnse than taking a TheslDarrow from wagon and lifting u over a fence, and feuing that out ragged justice has nos been sufficiently avenged, fhe authorities have decided to work these victims of religious preiu- dice in the chain gang
 It may not surprise our home read ers to learn that some of the most de- termined prosecutors of these unfortu- nate men are Methodists, and one of the most prominent was himself guilty of A fragrant breach Of the Sunday law, in having employed a large force of picke-s' every Sunday during the strawberry season, paying extra wages on that day.
 The offending Adventists were ar rested almost under the shadow of the Dayton Coal and Iron Company great furnaces, which are operated on Sun day, and employ hundreds of men. Passenger and freight trains thunder thsough the town on Sunday; drug stores, hvery stables and barber shops do business on Sunday, and are not disturbed by the minions of the law. Only the Adgsnfists, who obey the bible injunction to remember the Sab. bath day (tEe seventh day of the week. Co keep it holy, gre spled upon end persecuted.
 There is striking parallel between the bgnishment of Roger Williams from Salem, Mass, in 1885, and the i'm. prisonment of Seventh-day Adyentists today. Williams denied the right of the civil magistrate to punish men for breaking the Sabbath Roger Williams ih hero because of his opposition to church and state union. The Seventh day AdventistS are ID chains for in- sisting upon the sane liberty for which Williams contended. The same people today applaud ths enc and condemn the others. Religious bigotry and per secution are alive and potent iu Amer. ics today, to our shame as a nation be it said.
 Among the reasons given by our. forOfathers for establishing the Con- stitution is this: Ito secure the bless ings of liberty to ourselves and our pOsterity, " and Article I of the Amend ments declares that no law shall be passed prohibiting Che free exercise of religion"
 How long will the people supinely endure the anullment of the organic law and the sbridgement of their rights
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