Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1900-05-08
SUNDAY RECREATION.

To the Editor of the Register
Nearly every city has, or has had a
High Moral Society composed of linn
tied number of worthy and we'll mean
Ing citizens who deem it their especial
prerogative to regulate the morals OF
their neighbors and prepare them for
future salvation-in accordance with
their own particular views upon this
subject.
We must infer from their conduct
that they are especially gifted in their
dlscernment of right and wrong and
that the masses are peculiarly obtuse,
and so feeble of judgment that they
must have moral guardians TO instruct
them how to conduct themselves.
These people, blessed with an over
whelming abundance of light-this
High Moral Society, fought the con-
struction OF railways and the digging
of canals as ungodly dissertations.
Later it battled against the running
of trains on Sunday-it fiercely fought
the Sunday newspaper-and in Eng
land they still fight it. They fought
the playing of bands on Sunday and
the Sunday excursion, and in every
instance opposition against the insti-
tuition were futile.
The High Moral Society failed, simp-
ly, because it was wrong. The Blue
laws of puritanical fanaticism have
been buried beneath the dust of two
countrie and now it is too late to
attempt their resurrection. The appll-
cation of medieval laws of past ages
cannot be applied to the progression
and freedom of the goth century.
Personal liberty is better understood
now, than it was some centuries ago.
No one has the right to interfere with
the liberty and privileges of another
so long as he does not transgresS upon
the right and privileges of the other.
This is the cardinal principle upon
which all laws that govern society is
founded, and it's correctness has never
been disputed.
Yet the High Moral Society will not
accept this, but insist upon restrict
ing this personal liberty of others to
conform to their own ideas, and in
affairs, too, wherein they are in no
wise concerned.
1t most certainly does seem curious
to think that so much distress and ag-
itation can be caused simply by the
exercise of a personal right and by
healthful ecreation-merely because
it occurs on Sunday. What form of
enjoyment shall we provide for the
citizens who desire relaxation on Sun
days? We have here a great major
ity of people who are constantly en-
ployed during the week and have no
other day for rest and amusement but
the Sabbath. If any Of these desire 70
Nf lNoJ1 In
ball playing, upon what grounds
should they be restricted? Wherein
does the sin or crime occur? If any
one does not want to attend any game
or Sunday recreatiOn-what is easier
for him than to stay away? And be-
cause he stays away, what right has
he to attempt to force you to stay
away or to act under his dictation?
This dog in the manger" principle
is very bad one and it will be very
difficult to enforce. 1t may meet with
temporary success for awhile but it
must ultimately fail.
1t seems strange that in this city
of vigorous blood and muscle, that
must manifest itself in some way,
that any one would feel Mortified or
be driven into nervous spasms because
he felt that some people were enjoying
themselves on Sunday. Such seems to
be the case, however, and it calls TO
mind w. D. Howell's story of the pious
Scotchman, who said to friend. do
you ken what happened last Sabbath?
Gordie McAllister and I were goin' to
kirk and we saw stranger going
along whistling just like as if it was
a week day. We KEN up and I said
what are you whistlin' for, dinna We
ken it is the Sabbath? The mon said:
I am whistlin' for my dog We ken
that he was a lynn for we Gamma see
no dog So we took our clubs and
knockit him into the ditch and beat
him within an inch of his life, and l
said to him, Now see if you go about
whistlin' and enjoyin' yourself on the
Sabbath again.
1t is safe to assume that Gordie Nc
Allister and his associate were men,
bers of the High Moral Society.
PERSONAL LIBERTY.