The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1921-02-24
The Charmed Existence of
Sunday Newspapers

wick, Pa. that Sunday newspapers
were not amenable to the operation of
the Sunday blue law because there
were no Sunday newspapers in 1874
when the law was enacted, places that
official on a pedestal of prominence
to which all newspaper publishers
should ko-tow.
Whether this refreshingly original
opinion would be affirmed in the SUI
preme court, or any lower tribunal
matters not, as the Berwickians evil
IDENTIFY have too much confidence in
their good burgess to appeal the case.
But, seriously, isn't it unthinkable
that our far-sighted forefathers would
have legislated against such an i'm
portant and necessary an institution
as a. Sunday newspaper?
Is it not, rather, just to assume that
it was their intention that the press
should be always absolutely unre-
stricted-as much so as the practice of
religion-when, only three years be-
fore Gin 179) they adopted the first
amendment to the constitution of the
United States:
Congress shall make no laws re-
speeding an establishment of religion
or prohibiting the free exercise there
of or abridging the freedom of speech
or of the press!"
1t is quite as sensible-if one wants
to be fair-to construe this as favor
able TO an untrammeled press as it is
to suppose that Sunday railroad trains
would have been excepted, had they
been in existence, from the scope of
the blue law in the same way that
"watermen" and men who operated
ferries were excepted.
The sage burgess of Berwick settled
delicate point in a highly satisfac-
tory manner-somewhat in the way
Solomon did when both mothers
claimed the baby-and newspaper
publishers generally will rise en- masse
and call him blessed.-Fourth Estate.
Politeness and Refinement
We have written quite a lot recent
ly, about politeness. We have called
upon parents to teach, not only NOR
ais, but politeness and good behavior
as well. We should be glad to boast
that the people of the United States
are not only the most progressive
but also the most polite people
on earth. Especially have we tried to
impress our young men and girls with
these things and less attention to
tough stuff. There is, for instance,
no drawer nation of people on earth
than the French and yet they are the
most polite. Even French soldiers
and sailors are imbued with this
spirit. The Pensacola Journal tells us
about some young sailors attached to
French ship, landing at that port.
10
Pensacola Journal Several hundred
young French sailors have been Wis
! iting Pensacola. Every night they have
been given liberty to visit any part
of the city and they have taken full
advantage of the opportunity
Every street has been visited and
the red pompomed hats have been
common sights in ali sections of the
city.
Perhaps the most interesting and
noticeable feature of the visit Of these
strangers has been their universal
good behavior. Not one of them mas
been engaged in ruffianism or rUwdy-
ism and not one OF them has been
mixed up with the police.
Neither have the visitors chung out"
in disreputable parts of the city. They
have come ashore, intent on seeing
this strange American port, and have
wandered cheerily up and down the
streets looking in at the store win
dows. visiting the city hall and the
various parks, and have gone back to
their ship at night as clean rs they
came ashore.
Americans cannot help but respect
these representatives of u foreign
country Their good behavior b1 -
brought forth many favorable COM
ments and Captain Jolivet and the
French republic are to be congratu-
lated that the men of the Jeanne u
Arc have made such a splendid i'm
preston on the people Of Pensa-
Gainesville Sun.