The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1898-08-01


The sum of biblical teachings is that one
day in seven should be day of rest, when
man and beast should cease from their
daily vocations. 1t Dis agreed by religion
lists. moralists and most scientific people
that one-seventh of the time is essential for
rest. 1t has been proven by the Academy of
Science in France that machinery will per-
form its functions a greater number of
days when allowed to lie idle one-seventh
of the time. The principle has been proven
infinitely with reference to man and beast.
Man is a moral agent. He is responsible
to the great Moral Governor, whether he
admits it or not. This moral governor DIS
the author of both moral and physical law.
That is admitted by a Christian civilization
and generally by our American people. That
there is a man now and then who dares
to call these truths in question cuts no fig
ure. The laws CT our country are based
uponthese truths, and he who runs counter
to them is disloyal not only to the truth,
but to our American institutions which
have been built upon them. Says Hon. Will
liam Strong, justice CT the United States
Supreme Court: THE first settlers of this
country were a body of select men. They
were profoundly impressed with the con-
viction that a weekly Sabbath was essen
tial to the highest welfare of the communi-
ties which they established" Says Ralph
Waldo Emerson The Sunday is the core
The Sabbath was made for man. Mr.
Broadhhrst. member of the English Parlia-
less life of toll the Sunday is that which the
cooling stream in the desert is to the weary
traveller" Such scientific men as num-
boldt and DR.. Fare, of London, declare
time for rest, as much as it requires the
might The following was uttered by the
sainted Abraham Lincoln to the Union ar
mics in 1862: THE Importance for man and
beast of the prescribed weekly rest, the sa-
.red rights of Christian soldiers and sail
ors, becoming Difference to the best senti-
ments of the Christian people, and due re-
gard for the divine Will, demand that Sun
day labor in the army and navy be reduced
to the measure of strict necessity" All OF
our state constitutions, with the exception
of one or possibly two, recognize the moral
preme Court of the United States and the
higher courts of the individual States have
recognized it as an American institution.
The vast majority of the American people
believe in the day not only as a day of
rest but as a day of binding moral obli-
cation. There is no question that in the
United States Sunday labor is unlawful as
we'll as immoral. We have seen much in a
few periodicals concerning personal lib
erty' in these recent times. Now and then
with a plea. for personal liberty"
These people do not distinguish between
liberty and license"
thoughtlessly favor Sunday ball. They have
never studied the question in it's relations
to those fundamental principles which give
They selfishly believe that it is their right
to attend a game for amusement They have
never considered the question in its relation
to others, and the ultimate baneful effect
which such immoral and illegal practices
would have upon society. With the better
class, l have sympathy. I look upon them
as 1 would upon children who desire to play
with the fire, never having learned its dan
ger. Morally, and oftentimes Intellectually.
they are children who need instruction.
Then there is another class who insist upon
Sunday baseball simply for the money there
is in it, just as the saloon keeper sells in
toxicants for the money there is in the bust
ness. These people who would debauch pub
lie morals for a consideration are not good
the baseball enterprise of our city and who
will allow his money to remain there while
the club ignores the Sabbath day is doing an
immoral and unpatriOtic thing, no matter
what his financial or social standing may
be, or by what name he is known. If he has
any conscience left, he dares not study this
question in its length and breadth, or he
will repudiate any connection with, or re-
sponsibility for, the gross immortality which
he is helping to perpetrate. Among the rea-
sons which may be cited against Sunday
baseball. would suggest the following:
To play baseball on Sunday entails labor
upon the eighteen or twenty players in each
game, the gatekeeperS the policemen, the
street-car conductors and motormen. all of
whom need the rest of one day in seven.
shown again and again that man and beast
can do more and better work with one-sev-
enth of the time for rest. Such rest pro-
notes health and longevity; it affords an
opportunity of cultivating the acquaintance
OF ones family. These men need this rest
then, for physical. social and religious rea-
sons Sunday baseball is opposed to the let
ter and spirit of the laws of Indiana, and of
nearly all the States and Territories in the
Union. Each man who has part in Sunday
ball either as player or onlooker is so far
lawbreaker, and is ignoring the rights of
those who are compelled to work To dsre-
gard the Sabbath day is to ignore history.
to trample upon the traditions of our people
and to pour contempt upon those institu-
tons made sacred by our forefathers. AS
good citizens, to say nothing of the moral
principles involved, we should not trample
upon the laws of our country. l suppose we
need not argue that Sunday baseball is
labor. 1t comes clearly within the definition
of the daily vocation of the players and is
recognized as labor by all lawyers and
courts so far as / have knowledge.
Again. Sunday baseball should not be al
lowed nor played in respect TO the conscien-
tious convictions and habits of the majority
of our citizens. We have millions of Chris
tians, patriots. who represent the moral
sense. patriotic feeling and the sterling
character of the community in which they
dwell, who are opposed TO this prostitution
of the Sabbath day. This Christian element
is not the worst element In our country. II
is a tremendous constituency; to disregard
il would be unjust. II not only should be
respected. but ii should assert its rights.
Sunday is a sort of oasis. 1t is a time when