Idaho County free press. [volume] (Grangeville, Idaho Territory) 1886-current, 1907-05-16
REST LAW TALK
Effect of Measure Criticised
by Subscriber.
FINDS MANY GOOD POINTS
Discrimination Will Make 1t
Dead Letter.

Editor Free Press:
1t is commendable, the spirit
shown in Grangeville by all classes
in observing the Sunday rest law.
l will venture to say not town in
Idaho OF the same size, conformed
60 strictly to it's regulations, but I
am satisfied that sooner or later
violations of the law will occur, so
that it's enforcement will be a dead
letter, owing to the determinations
Of the law.
The law in numerous ways has
many merits, but it is open to crit
icism in others, which will ulti-
mately result in it's repeal or the
enactment Of q law that does not
discriminate. Considered from a
purely theological standpoint there
is absolutely no warrant for the
Sunday laws in operation in most
of our so-called Christian states.
The old Jewish Sabbath was day
Of rest, of feasting and rejoicing
very different from that of the Sec
ond temple and the Puritanical
Sunday which the laws in ques
ton seek to re.establish. Christ
recognized the Jewish Sabbath and
the early Christians observed
it and no other. We have thous.
ands of good citizens who observe
this day and regard Saturday az
the true Sabbath. Shall we com.
pell these people to stultify them
selves in this country of religious
liberty, where every man is sup.
posed to be privileged to worship
God according to the dictates ol
his own conscience. A man should
certainly not be allowed to fill his
hide with mean whiskey and be-
come personally offensive to those
to whom Sunday possesses sacro
sanct character; but he should bt
compelled on all days to conduct
himself with decency and decoruu
or suffer the consequences. 1t il
high time the old blue laws wer,
relegated to oblivion. Christian
ity stands for optimism, not pessi
mism. 1t is a religion Of JOY in
stead Of sorrow, of laughter rather
than tears, of light and life, not o
gloom and death. Viewed from (
purely economic standpoint th'
Sunday holiday is to be com
mended, and not day of penac'
confining all of the people to thu
narrow, theological views of thos'
whom a different birth might hav'
changed their ideas Of western
dogmatism. 1t is not right t.
emancipate the average working
man from the slavery of his dali,
treadmill and deny him the righ
to recreate himself as he ma,
choose. Sunday, to really benefi
the average person, to put fresl
vigor in his veins and new courag
| in his heart, to remind him tina
he is q man, not machine, shoul'
be as free from restraint as possible
There is true worship of God in
happy, joyful heart engaged in tn
unrestrained pursuits OF his wv
inclinations if Of q true character
l have no word to say in deroga
ton of the Christian sabbath, but
do insist the observance or NOR
observance thereof is a matte
soley between the peoples cor
science and their creator, that the
are free to deter mine what the
may and may not do properly o
that day and that any laws upo
the statute books is an invasion I
the natural rights of man, eubvel
sive of the teachings Of Christ an
q fragrant violation of the feder,
constitution. We must not fO
get that secular is grounded npo
moral law, and that in turn upo
religion, that theology and juri
prudence are so interviewer tn;
complete separation is practical
impossible. We cannot legisla
people to be good, nor can we fort
it down dissenter's throats with
policeman's club. Only Purital
ical intolerance will COMPEL tho
who reject the Christian religion
observe it's Sabbath. Only bigotr
born of ignorance and nursed
insolence, will presume to dicta
to an American citizen how
shall spend his Sundays. tt
present law may eventually wo
out the needed reforms for whi
it was intended but your corr
spondent does not at present vie
it from that standpOint. It lac
the essence Of charity essential
it's longevity and only makes ever
one of us criminals as in some W
or other we uncOnsciously cam
refrain from encrOaching up
some features OF it whereby
violate il. Yours Truly,