Semi=weekly graphic., 1896-12-19
PINE BLUFF. ARK, DEC. 20 1896.
THE SUND4Y NEWSPAPER.

THE SUNDH1 WE WoIAEER
 All good citizens are interested in the preservation of the Sabbath, without distinction of religions, sect or creed; the best element in society, among civilized nations, is now fully of the opinion that the Sabbath was made for man. It lies at the foundation of public morals, public health and public prosperity. The period of the French Revolution proved this.
 The most serious objection to the modern Sunday newspaper is to be found in it's effect upon the observ- ance of the Sabbath. l am of those oldfashioned preachers who believe that man is essen tially religious animal, and that it is through the religious element in his nature that he becomes greatestin all the varied relations he sustains in the family and State. In other words, some sort and degree of religious worship is essential to the best citizenship. Whatever directly seduees men from attending public worship and discharging other duties specially provided for by the Sabbath, is an evil.
 It is pertinent to ask why there is decadence along these lines. Why do men loiter about their homes, the hotels and clab rooms? The fault is not with the churches. The preachers, as a class, are bright or, brainer and broader than ever before. The church services are more attractive and sittings are more comfortable and inviting. Never before were there so many avenues open for missions of charity and deeds of kindness. Why should there be a tendency to make the Sabbath day day of loafng
 In my humble opinion, with your permission, I will candidly say that the Sunday newspaper is responsi- be to a very large extent for these things, which have so much to do with a decline in public morals. Last Sundays RepabHc contained thirty eight pages. It was equiv alenC to an octave volume of three hundred and four pages. Seventy eight thousand copies of it were printed and distributed. It was but one of many such papers deliv- cred at the homes Of the people for breakfast. It came to Pine Bluff for supper, others having been served for breakfast and dinner Every thing that money, art and enter prise can do is done to make these papers attractive to male and female, old and young. A regu'a ar banquet is spread, having many dishes. Every appetite Of man Is coaxed into indulgence. There are articles on business, politics, religion, sport, art, society, adventure, wit, poetry and romance. The simple truth is that men daily away most of the day devouring these papers. The result is that they do not go to church, nor do they discharge those parental obligations or duties to the sick and poor which have heretofore made our American Sabbath the bulwark of civilization which has been the pride and glory of the nineteenth century.
 In London, the center of the com mercial life Of the world, there are no Sunday newspapers. They are prohibited by law. Yet, in our country, they are the one and onIy purely aoney-making scheme which is allowed to advertise and spread itself on Sunday. If they are a necessity" then, like all necessary evils, they ought to be restrained rather than encouraged.
 J. L. CALDWELL, Pastor First Presbyterian Church.