The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1897-02-01
"sunday and Personal Liberty"

of testing the strength of the Texas law.
SUNDAY and Personal Liberty"
To the Editor Of The Post.
Being daily reader of The Post and
in general an indorser of its teachings,
since it usually champions the right. you
Will. trust, grant me the privilege of
briefly reviewing the article published last
Sunday under the above caption, from the
conclusions drawn in which article / dis
sent most omphatically. 1t is not unusual
for those whose opinions differ from those
OF majority of their fellow men to cry
out that their personal rights are invaded /;
those who defy the laws in our border
counties are very solcitous that the Rang
ers be withdrawn, but their desire Is ne
proof that such withdrawal would redoun.
to the public good.
After reading your article with care,
| also the appeal Of the free-thnkcrs Of
Dallas on the same subject, must say
| that the claim that laws restricting and
regulating public amusements on sunday
curtail personal liberty or are in the IA
ture OF sumptuary legislation, II correct
| w understand the matter Is n claim not
supported by sound reasoning What is
sumptuary legislation? 1t is defined by
our lexicons. and has been defined by the
courts as legislation intended to restrict
or regulate the expenses OF private in
! diViduals. To call laws in reference 10
| .he observance OF Sunday. sumptuary laws
! ~ misleading, deceptive and a gross abuse
of language. Whether they are unduIv 10
| stncliNe of personal liberty may be a
question worthy of investigations The ar
suinent you use in favor OF Sunday lall
| playing is the very same used bv the
| pioprletors OF lheaters, beer gardens End
o , sltl'lar places TO justify keeping
| lhelh open on Sunday. And the assertion
mat this is desired in the interest of The
iaboTltlg men who can not on other DAYS
| seek amusement is a aero subturfuer.
| III all our larger cities Sunday observance
| is opposed and Sunday destcration adyoca. .
| ed by the owners of wine halls and heer
! gardens OF theaters and public parks and
by those holding n monetary interest in
street car and suburban lines upon tho
| same specious plea of the necessity Of
providing recreation for the laborng man.
But The real reason why they desire TO
niuhe SUNDAY simply day of public
| amusement. Is the fact that by so doing the
| iaborlng classes can be induced to spend
'helr savings for the benefit of the owners
| OF these same places CT public resort You
admi, that 1t Is right to designate dav
| Oil religious observance, but say that does
Nv. carry WIN u the necessity of using the
! entire uaY FOR such observance Where Is
your authority for that statement? Was
the command given to observe the day.
| or 10 observe a part of II and spond M,
| remainder In amusement? The argument
YOU make from the character of IN. snort
an u tue necessary Tor amusement is also
| tallaclous II is we'll known that b,se-
bail as now played on Sunday is PLAYED for
| money and not for amusement az All And
| me same as now conducted is not cou-
IuuclNe 10 health. either physical. mental
/ or moral Bcitins and profanity age It's
usu'l Soncenitants. Again you say there
| are Only about a dozen cities in our Sfafe
| Whelc sunday bali games are PLAYED ana
| IN them public sentiment is divided nm
| II unresiraincd by law. the evil viii %, ~
lainly spread 10 The smaller cities and
loWnh' ana We shall soon see the country
| loiiuted by all the laXity Of the continentsl
| SUNDAY ! am unable to sec bv what
process of reasoning YOU reach the concln-
! SION mat 1t is sumptuary legislation for
| those who oppose Sunday desccrntlrn AVA
des're 10 spend their Sabhaths at homo n,
thn lulet OF thelr families instructine their
children in those fundamental princ,nin,
CT morality and religion which aione IN
| NJ mem Tor honest manhood or natrio,t,
| citizenship, namely a submission tn ~.
| Jaws OF God ana due respect for tho .eel
lhss ana opinions Of their fellow.nan
10 advocate laws which will protect the,n
IN these rights II seems TO me YOU com
| found the blue laws OF Puritanisw ,,,t.,,
| the common rules Of morality and docorn,.
| bn' there Is wide distinction hr,,,,ea,
lhem. | do not say, for 40 hi "a tbint
mat all who play or attend haii ss.,'.'. ~ "
SUNDAY are had men, Bar In s.a,, ~
search Of good earnest Christian at5 d
porson was named and recomr-c,5,s ., ~, ~
as such and AZ tho same t-s, ST.. l,
! would ma him at thu hail game A ~
! daY afternoon | confess I womb hos, 'i,a
siatemen; with surprise Womb MI ,,.,
One Of the prOno, lions which van ne
s shn, 70 ne indispu,hole thar 20 thst Laws
! 'A'u'a only proteS' eaeh individual in the