The record-union., 1897-01-10

difference between a country inhabited
by men full of bodily and mental vigor,
and country inhabited by men sunk
in bodily and meptal decrepitude.
Therefore it is we are not poorer, but
richer, because we have in many ages
rested one day in seven. That day is
not lost While industry is suspended,
while the plow lies in the furrow, while
the exchange is silent, while no smoke
asoends from the factory, a process Is
going on quite as important to the
wealth of nations as any process which
is performed on more busy days. Now
the machine of machines, the machine
compared with which all the contriv-
arces of the Watts and Arkwrights are
worthless, is repairing and winding up,
so that he returns to his labors on Mon
day with clearer intellect, with livelier
spirits, with renewed corporeal vigor.
A civil Sabbath law, to fully answer
it's benevolent intent, should close the
doors of dissipation and decentralization,
all places admittedly corrupting and
destructive to health and public morals.
Who oppose such a law? Possibly some
would rank themselves with the oppo-
sition without purpose or conviction.
But mainly, the angry and organized
opponents will be found among the
keepers of Sunday resorts the owners
of lines of Sunday travel, saloon keep
ers, gamblers, pickpockets, courtesans
and thieves in general.
When the convention of a great party
promised to repeal our Sabbath law,
Judge Searles and other wise and able
men strongly demonstrated. The law
was repealed, not so much because the
members of the Legislature were gvenal,
as for the reason that they had not ac-
quainted themselves with the subject
majtter, the decisions Of the courts and
the reasonings Of a large number of
eminent jurists. With perfect fairness
aver that they repealed the law, not
because they We're bought, as many
suspected, but because in that particu-
lar matter they were incompetent. Cum
ming lobbyists told them that the Sab
bath is so imbedded in the common
law and the sentiments of the Ameri-
can people that there is no danger Of
eradicating it; and the statute is of
fensive to many foreigners, and may
be safely repealed without loss.
The subject in hand is destined more
and more TO take prominence among
the live questions of the day. Every
State in the Union, but our own, with
possibly a single exception, has a Sa b.
bath law, and the several bodies poll
tic are now agitalted with the proper
observance of the law. Nor is 1T in
America alone that the vital subject
is engaging public thought. Those
countries of Europe whose people have
experienced the bitter effects of a no
Sabbath policy are loudly demanding
the recognition of the rights of wage
earrers-who are the wealth makers Of
the world-to the relief which what
many Of them call the American Sun
day. would afford them. Belgium has
adopted a new rule as to the delivery
Of the Sunday mail. France has a Wig
orous "Ligne Populaire" to promote
Sabbath keeping. 1t issues a periodi-
cal and has among its members such
men as NJ. Leon Say, NJ. E. Cheysson
NJ de Nordling and many others. In
1892 the Government voted 100000
francs to allow country postmen one
free Sunday a month. In Germany a
law was passed to close shops on Sum
day. A compromise modified the law
so that shops could be kept open few
hours on Sunday, but it is regarded as
temporary expedient. Recently
mercantile house employing a hundred
and twenty clerks was fined $500 for
making them work too long on Sunday
In Holland no newspapers are issued
on Sunday. In Italy a large congress
Of Workingmen's societies has voted in
favor of a law making Sunday rest OBJ
Egatory. In Russia Postoffices are open
on Sabbath only from II to 2. In
Gre ece the Metropolitan of Athens and
the Director of Police are taking steps
to promote sevenith-day rest. In Nor
way shops and factories are closed on
Sundays. The sale of alcoholic liquors
is prohibited from 5 o'clock p. m on
Saturday till s O'Clock a. M Monday.
In Sweden the crews of vessels are re-
leased from unnecessary work on Sun
day. In Switzerland the Cantons, gen.
orally, Protestant and Catholic, have
ordinances to protect the people from
demand for Sunday labor. Newspapers
are not printed there, and a new rail-
road from Yverdun to Saint Croix
runs neither freight nor passenger
trains or the Sabbath.
Thus the world is moving Were our
fathers who laid the structural plan of
our great and free Government incom-
petent builders? Are the statesmen and
courts and profound jurists of all the
States but ours pettifoggers and pre-
tenders to legal knowledge? Are the
toiling millions of Europe who are call
ing loudly for a Sabbath rest incompe-
tent witnesses concerning their own
condition?
We are confronted by all these ques
tions and more and as candid men
must answer them. Which position
will we assume, This" or THAT"
NJ. c. BRIGGS,
Field Sec. Col. State Sab. Association.
San Jose, Jan. Sth