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

The ridiculous extreme to which the
Sunday closing movement has peeh
brought here in Richmond, calls atten-
ton 10 the core OF the thing. the ques-
ten. what are the purpose and basis OF
Sunday legislation? Doubtless the real "
answer viii be that II IS Tor the puI-
pose of the better observance OF the sab
Jath, and on moral and religious GROUNDS.
If this answer be the correct one, fnrh
Sunday legislation Is basally unsound.
By reason of the fact that the prepoh-
icrating majority Of the people OF tte
United States observe the first day Of the
week as a Sabbath, this day mas Deeh
recognized by gOyernment-Federdl, state
and municipal But the recognition IL
on grounds other than religious. Laws
are made. not that every one must De
wOrshipper on that day, bat that those
who do worship may be protected III theif
right TO undisiurbed devotion But those
VINO do not regard that day as sacred,
have rights equal 10 those who 90, anu
should be protected in those rights a
completely as are the others, as long as,
In the enjoyment of them. ;hey DO MOI
disturb their neighDors, or trespdss upon
their rights and privileges.
In how far this enjoyment may go
without trespass, 1t Is the part OF WIS.,
legislation TO define and Judlclous en-
forcement 10 determine. Laws reguiai-
Ing traffic or commerce on Sunday must
be enacted on the basis OF protection
for those who desire to worship ana not
on The ground that it is a sabbath which
All must observe. The enforcement OF
them must be along the same hhes.
II is unwise for ministers and others
to cry that the american SabDath
must III. upheld There Is no American
sabbath" The first day Of the week -
a Sabbath TO those OF Christian pro,es
sion. and it must be taught TO De IvNel
euced by the Christian church ana hot
by United States or any single S'"te
government Religion cannot he en-
acted into the heart Of man, ana II IL
could. state and Federal government are
both constiiuticnally prohibited from reg
isiatiIg in tavor OF any single Shaoe u
The gambling and liquor questions are
to be regarded altogether separately
They are evils which society mas fSh.
to control OF suppress as a measure Oh
seif-protectiCH. The former should lie
suppressed at all times. It's presence -
rtrnicious TO the welfare or society. Inc
sale OF liquor should be uhder condIoi
and on Sunday, under strlcter surNeh-
lance, or stopped altogetheras may seem
it, not however, on the basis that such
day is the Sabbath, but on the GROUND
that there is more leisure and 'Jleness OH
that dav and consequently greater temp
tations 10 disturbance. The liquor ques-
ton on Sunday should be regarded III
the same light as II is on election Gays,
controlled on the basis OF the protectt".
Of the peace Of the community, ana hOi
On GROUNDS rcNSlous ,..
When legislation Is placed on relisl-
Gus basis it becomes vicious and tyran-
zeal. as needs but be evidenced by the
fact tfat eight honest, conscientious Sew
enth-day Adventists, of Rhea county,
Tenn. have been condemned 10 serve
terms OF from seventy-fve to ninety days
i'm the county jail at Dayton. Tenn, Tor
the offence of doing common labor on
Sunday. tillng their fields- where there
was no possibility of disturbing any ones
devotion or trespassng upon any one
rights Here is the danger or leglsla-
ton on religious grounds. Fanaticism
will ALWAYS be found vigilant TO detect
and relentless TO prosecute, and wheh
here in America honest and peaceful men
are sent 70 the chain-gans for the sole
reason that they have followed the die
tates of their conscience. IL is time that
IL is Looked 10 that legislation is put upon
it's PROPER basis. that only OF the vel
fare Of tie Commonwealth. ana as ~ite-
~ separated from religious coercion as
pole is from poie.-The Jewish South.