The record-union., 1897-03-02
The SUNDAY Law.

Eds. Record Union: Some one has
kindly sent me copy of Signs of the
Times, Saturday Sabbath sheet,
which appears to be specially directed
| against a Sunday law. 1t can be
summerized in few propositions:
l. Such law is oppressive.
III. 1t is unAmerican.
III. 1t is unconstitutional.
". 1t is prosecuting.
The answers may be brief. AS to No.
l., great numbers of laboring men in
Europe and America pray for such a law
as relief from oppression.
AS to No. IL, how can a thing be un-
American which has the sanction of the
National Constitution as a non judicial
day, and has been placed on the statute
books of fortythree of the States and
has had the sanction of every eminent
juriSt whose official attention has been
called to it?
No. III. is sufficiently answered by
those who framed the Constitution, by
the Constitution itself and by the law
fully authorized interpreters of the Con-
stitution.
No. " assumes that the Sunday law
is framed to persecute persons who are
conscientiOusly opposed to it. If any
such use has been made of the law, the
beneficent intent of it has been wholly
disregarded. The general good is SO
manlfestly its design that there is no
re ON for argument on that point The
case in Tennessee SO often and ostenta-
tiously paraded, when truly and fully
stated wears an entirely different face.
The Dartipc
because they kept Saturday or
because they did not keep Sunday, but
because, in their zeal they broke the
lawful rest day in such a way as to
make it very uncomfortable and annoy
ing to those who desired to enjoy it's full
measure of benefits. l hope and believe
that the practice is not common among
our friends of that persuasion; but some
within my knowledge let their ardor
| in the newfound faith run away with
reighborly good manners.
It appears almost impossible to make
those good people understand that we
are not discussing the question which
is the right Sabbath; but trying to pro-
vide legal rest day, so that toiling men
shall not be oppressed and enSlayed. 1t
must be one and the same day. or the
purpose is frustrated. If seven -tenths
of one per cent. of the people can nullify
the law, then anarchy must reign. Our
Saturday Sabbath friends, whose zeal
so much admire as deeply to regret that
it should be misdirected, have a consid-
cradle printing establishment in Oak
land. Suppose half their hands should
insist on working Sunday and the other
half Saturday. would the condition be
harmonious and the work completed ac-
cOrding to contract?
1 notice a guess at something I said
at Sacramento. Reporters have SO many
sins laid to their charge that I will not
accuse them of misrepresentation here,
but someone fell into great error. To
prevent further error / will repeat the
facts briefly stated at that time. When
the State convention of one of our great
parties met in 1882 to form a platform
to send before the people. many of the
members thought it would insure po-
litical advantage to pledge the party to
repeal the Sunday law Judge Searls
and other able members protested, but
the plank was adopted. The plea was
made that the Sabbath was in the com
mon law, and in the sentiments of the
American people, therefore the statute
was needless, and it was offensive to
many. The party was victorious, and
when the Legislature met in January,
1883, the same sophistry was used with
effect, and the statute was repealed. 1t
had already passed the scrutiny of the
Supreme Court, / believe, and was
therefore repealed as piece of political
finesse. That is the bill now before the
Legislature for re-enactment
Mr.. Editor, pardon me for consuming
so much time and space. AT first blush
| did not see how any man Of intelli-
gence could need that these objections
should be answered. But the fact that
they were published compelled me to
think that somebody-the writer at
least-regarded them as valid. AS like
to accord candor to all men, ] have
snatched a fragment of time from my
busy life to say these few things, and l
do this with perfect respect toward OPP
ponents. and in the hope that the men
of toll may be legally protected against
the exactions of greed and the oppres-
sions Of power. NJ c. BRIGGS.
Sunday Observance.