Year: 1874




. than once to give good counsel tC
) his erratic countrymen.


-----H---


, A Day Of Rest.


lst. Louis Republican,


The discussion of the Sunday
question has been reopcned. This
time it has taken an unanticipated
course. In the pending debate the
theologians are left out. The issue
J is not whether man is commanded
to abstain from labor on the seventh
day by Il divine law-giver, but
whether he is not required to do so
by an imperative law of his physical
nature. The propositions to be dis.
cussed partake more of the social


than the ethical character--are


more scientific than moral. OF


course the old issues between the


Sabbatharians and the liberals are


not disposed Of by this diversion in


the treatment of the subject, but


they are not to be presented. The


immediate provocation for the re-


commencement of this interminable
contention was the inauguration of
Sunday eperatic entertainments in


New York by Mr. Strakosch. The


police commissioners set their faces
against the innovation, and carried
the matter into the courts. But the
whole matter is now being argued
before a court that will not be likely
to agree in rendering u Judgment
the tribunal of public opinion. The
journals of the country are the
pleaders, pro and con, before this
court. Able advocates are con-
structing arguments on both sides.
At present it seems as if the rest
day party had the advantage both
as to the facts and tho law.


In the discussion of this subject
there are q few considerations of too
much Importance to be neglected or
overlooked. A few years ago an
eminent American writer gave it rs
his opinion that the European race
was burning out" on this CONT
nent. The cause assigned for this
supposed deterioration was the rest


less activity of the people, the effort
to master too much in too short q
time. Thorough in few things, the
Americans are smattcrers in many
sciences. But this was not all. The
mental and physical forces are con-
tinuously occupied. There is no
halt, no rest, no repose. In all the
pursuits of life this same condition
of "go ahead is apparent. 1t is
sapping the vitality of the people.
The physical powers are taxed be-
yond capacity; muscular develop
ment dwarfed, and even the capacity
to think calmly and correctly
greatly weakened. "Wero it not,
says this writer, "for the fact that
we are constantly receiving from the
most muscular elements Of the old
world fresh additions to physical
man God to be incorporated in our
population, in II few years the ma
ton would become pismics in body
and monkeys in mind" This is
surely a dreary enough outlook for
the generations TO come. But this
is not the only writer who has
borne testimony to the evident
waste of life currents by the Amer
lean people. Others have repeatedly
called attention to the decline of
our countrymen in muscular power,
and seek cause for it in the cease
less efforts, the unreposing energy
Of the people.


But what has all this to do with
the question of seventh. day absti.
nence from labor? Much, very |
much. 1t shows tho absolute neces.
sity for some sort of check upon
the unceasing activity of the. peo-
pie. "Americans are always in a
very great hurry" is what dis
tinguished European who had visit
ed this continent wrote on returning
to his own country. Precisely.
And this everlasting rush is the
bane of the country. But sitting
in an opera house surely cannot be
classed as labor OF course not.
Those who constitute the audience
do not work But it requires labor
on the stage or there can be no
amusement or enjoyment to those
who occupy the auditorium. 1t
may be objected that even in the
churches great labor is required of
the minister and the choir to engage
the interest of the congregation.
Granted that this is true and yet
we can readily see that there is little
in common in tho two cases upon
which to institute parallel. The
labor is different in kind and in
tended for different object, prompt
ed by different motive. Good
deeds may rightfully be performed
at anv time. There comes in an
ethical distinction which we will
not now enter upon. Nevertheless
it cannot be separated from the



The main question is a practical
one. Having once assented to the
proposition that the physical system
of man needs repose at frequent in
tervals, the next question is How
shall this rest be secured TO the
By making it lawful for
all manner of business transactions
to be carried on every day in the
year? Surely in this way it cannot
be guaranteed. But it may be OBJ
iected that Sunday theatricals and
operate performances are designed
TO afford amusement and entertain
mcnt to the masses. But is it prob
able that this design would be
carried out? Ii the theatrical
manager had not gain in view would
the theatres be opened? Not at all.
If the impressario did not expect
handsome pecuniarv returns he