Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1896-03-27
The Proposed Sunday Law.

To the Editor of The Evening Star:
read in The Star of Saturday the state
ment of John H. Elliott as to why the pro-
posed Sunday law should be passed by Con-
gress. and 1 thought perhaps your readers
would be interested in few statements by
those who respectfully dissent from the
views held by that gentleman.
There are some things which Mr.. Elliott
fails to state, that in fairness ought to be.
stated. The act of 1861 was never signed
by the mayor. and perhaps for very good
reasons The acts prohibited by this act
and the present proposed law are not crimes
in themselves, but are laudable and right
here is the list. 1T shall be unlawful for
any person to open any place of business or
maintain any stand for the sale Of any ar
tcle or articles of profit" They prohibit
any public playing Of foot ball or base ball,
or any kind of playing sports, pastimes or
diversions. All these are encouraged in the
good order of society. Now, when and why
Is 1t proposed to prohibit these? On the
first day of the week, commonly called Sun
day, and for the reason that the day is re-
garded sacred by portion Of the people of
the community. This is the best reason in
the world why Congress should have moth
ing to do with It, The reason is purely a
religious one, and one with which Congress
has no right to deal. Mr.. Elliott speaks of
his constituency in the District Shall even
majority have the right to have their re-
ligious sentiment enacted into law? Why,
then, do we complain at the treatment of
Christians in Turkey? much larger con-
stituency than be represents has expressed
itself on the question of religious legislation
by the first amendment to the National Con-
stitution-"CongresS shall make no law re-
speeding the establishment of religion or
prohibiting the free exercise thereof" The
proposed Sunday law would both create an
establishment of religion and prohibit the
free exercise of the same.
1t proposes to recognize the sacredness
of at lest one Christian institution, by
creating crimes out of virtues, when per-
formed on the religious day. 1t also pro-
Poses to tolerate those who dissent from
the views Of the ruling class, in the mat
ter of The particular day to be observed
which act of federation may be withdrawn
at the discretion of the power so enactins.
Does not this prohibit dissenters from
freely exercising their religious belief?
Suppose tho tables were turned, and those
keeping another day Of the week were in
the majority, would the people who are
row demanding the Sunday law deem that
they were enjoying liberty while they were
even required to uniformly observe the
Cay of their choice, in order to be exempt
from the operation of law requiring the
observance of Saturday? Evidently the
fiamers Of the first amendment had in
mind Just such an emergency as we now
have before u.s. 1t would have been easy
to have written the amendment SO as to
prohibit the establishment of any church
III tnaI case every institution OF the Chris
tan, or any other religion, having a ma
jority Of adherents, might have been es-
tahlished by Congi ess; and the adherents of
all others would have been deprived of the
free exercise of theirs in consequence of
the establishment by law of the views of the
majority.
Our fathers built wisely; let us who be-
lieve in the Christian religion be content
with Liberty. The Christian religion is
either a power in itself or it is of no value
In the first centuries Christianity made it's
way in opposition to the laws Of the most
powerful nation or earth, and can it not
its own in land of freedom?
Mr.. Elliott seems to imply that when it
becomes known that the act of 1864 has
teen declared invalid, the people having
stores and shops and stands will all open
on Sunday, and, therefore, it is neces-
sary for Congress to enact this law. These
are not criminals, but people that hate
crime, and that by the establishment of
peaceful pursuits seek the gcod order of
society. And who can say that their ideas
of sacred things are not as exalted as those
of the reverend gentlemen who are so
anxious to regulate the religious observance
of Sunday by law? Let Congress go on
with It's work Of depressing crime not Gre
atirg it.. And let the church go on with its
work Of pointing out sin, and pointing men
to the Savior from sin. ALLEN MOON.