Five Mile Beach weekly journal., 1917-02-23
BY S. P. FOSTER

F0AtA1t was OOA A1t$o aA0 RtoOC0 - -
for working on Sunday in violation of
law. While the prisoner was awaiting
the result of an appeal to the Federal
Court he died.
The Judge in his remarks laid en-
phasis on the fact hat so far as the
state or nation is concerned, Sunday
laws must be based on the physical
effect of observing one day In seven
with q cessation from work and not on
the religious phase Of the question, II
there ia to be freedom of conscience In
religious matters. He said the govern
ment could take the scripture as a basis
and compel everybody to work six days
and rest the seventh, quoting the sent
ence six days shalt thou labour,"
which he said was just as binding as
the command TO rest the seventh day.
He said there was a gulf which could
not be bridged between seventh day
observers and first day OF the week OBJ
servers. He called attention to the
conscientious convicted Adventist who
80 literally interpreted the command
ment that he was obliged to work elk
days and keep holy the seventh, which
is Saturday.
He held it to be the duty Of the state
and the right of the state, to compel a
cessation from ordinary business and
labor one day in seven, but was of the
opinion that the law should not decide
as to which day in seven individual
religionists should observe.
%MG
In the "Peace move" recently made
by President Wilson, there was an
effort to obtain from each of the bellig-
erents, a statement of just what they
were fighting for, and a comparatively
understandable statement of the aims
and animosities of each was made.
Now that this country Is talking war,
every citizen should try and understand
the reasous which will force Is in war
ii we conclude to fight Germany, and II
we figure this out on the proper basis,
we must take into consideration the
history of the world and more particul-
arly the history of this Republic since
the days when Washington was Presi-
dent.
We are demanding 1.-THE Freedom of
the Seas.n Should we fight for that
Freedom or continue to work for it
through treaties and education as we
have been doing?
Great Britain denies us the Freedom
of the Seas as effectually as does Ger
many. We submit to British blockade
and searches because that country
sinks u ships without warn
nor murders the passengers, but
she does search our ships, confiscate
goods, hold up our malls
md create an almost intolerable condi-
therefore we must conclude that
u fighting for Freedom of the Seas we
must oppose not only Germany and her
lilies, but Great Britain and most OF
If her allies.
While this country has endeavored
its history TO establish the
principle that neutral shipping may
travel un molested in time of war, we
have never converted some of the
strong nations to the principle. Ger
many not only does not recognize the
principle, but sinks neutrals as well as
enemies, and even passenger ships,
without warning and without prepar-
ing for the safety of passengers or
crews. The new submarine warfare
has brought this about. Submarines
could not be effectively used in any
other way.
Germany's blockaded or barred zone.
does not comply with any system of
b%lockading heretofore recognized in the
history of the world, just as submarine
warfare does not comply with or re-
semble any weapon used in previous
wars.
II we go to war with Germany we
will probably not convert either her or
England to the policy of Freedom of
the Seas" as we want 1t, in fact there
is not more than one chance in one
hundred of establishing the principle
by an appeal to arms. When the prin-
ciple finally wins it will be established
by a league of nations in time Of peace,
and not when mems brains and emo
tions are at fever heat on account OF
wal.
This country has taken one step
which was not a declaration of war,
but in taking that step we announced
that we will not hold diplomatic inter-
course with any nation which takes the
lives of neutrals at sea without warning