The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1899-08-06
A MORAL FIT.

There are many Inconsistencies and failures pecu-
liar to the operation, or lack Of operation, of pub
lie sentiment in American communities But from old
and stad lands, like England we occasionally get a
view Of social and political absurdities which sur
pass anything we have to present
Recently in the city of London it entered Into
the minds of the proprietOrs of two of the leading
daily papers that Sunday editions would meet all the
requirements of "a long-felt want" These two in
telgent editors having satisfied themselves as thor
oughly possible without actual experience
that their judgment correct proceeded to put
each Sunday editions in the field. After a very
brief experience the Sunday issues were withdrawn
and the explanation offered that the Investment
did not pay, the Sunday editions receiving no patron
age
The truth Of the matter is that the highly moral
city of London took fit The prOprietors of the two
papers in question found a result that if they ex-
pected to continue publishing their respective PAPERS
for six days in the week. or indeed for any number
of days at ALL they would have to discontinue their
Sunday editions. 1t involved such a violation of
the British Sabbath to be intolerabIe. Not only
would not the ordinary newspaper reader touch the
SUNDAY edition; but perfect avalanche of denuncia-
ton broke upon the two devoted editors and proprie
tors for their disregard Of the moral welfare of Brit
ish society.
1t may be observed that, while the Sunday edi-
uOHS lnuS placed before the London public had the
effect Of the traditional red rag on the bull there
are quite number Of weekly publications issued in
London on Sunday, Of greater or less circulation
all OF which have the Sunday date line upon them
and which were in degree affected by the moral
spasm which destroyed the other publications It
is also worthy Of note that London is in every sense
Wlde-open city, SO far relates municipal tolera-
ton on that day Of the various notable exDreg
s1ons of vice Drunkenness abounds on the Sabbath On
the streets Of London day as well as night. and
among women as among men. The 'pubcs' are
allowed to run without the appearance Of regu.
latlon Troops of dssolute women may he seen
on the public thoroughfares. Every known form of
enjoyment is sought after by the people executing
alone resort to the theaters. There is no thouobt
except among a small fraction of the peopIa of
attending divine service. Nor is there anv nrivata
or public effort worth mentioning being made tn curh
Oh regulate the yagrant tendencies of the Sunday
Cockney in any direction. Yet the effort TO astab
llsh Sunday edition of a daily paper was reoardod
among all classes alike being a serious fnvasion
OF the moral rights and prerogatiFes of British On
ciety.
1t would be useless to pretend to exnlaip +b,s
strange phenomenon. Except that the British -,1bI
is very conservative and slow to change from lor
accepted usages, there is perhaps no exclamation -
oHeE Daily papers have been printed in +bo ;t
OF London six days each week since shortly aft +1
days Of Addison and Steele and no ono tas o.
thought OF printing Sunday edition Tho o+++
TO Go so now was an innovation which had not 49,
pubic sanction Whether or not this no III, -
explanation. the circumstance is one which ,+
the moral tendencies of the British public in . -,
strange light to American eyes