Sunday in Politics by Editor

Seventh-day Adventist Missionary Society · Oakland, California · Jul 13, 1882

Sunday in Politics.

By Editor

KNOWING the interest that all our readers feel in the discussion of the Sunday Law, we give the following extract from the platform adopted by the State Democratic Convention at San Jose, last month, together with the discussion upon it:—

"Resolved, That the Democratic party, inheriting the doctrine of Jefferson and Jackson, hereby declares its unqualified enmity to all sumptuary legislation, regarding all such exercise of the law-making power as against the just objects of free government, and that all laws intended to restrain or direct a free and full exercise by any citizen, of his own religious and political opinion, so long as he leaves others to enjoy their rights unmolested, are anti-Democratic and hostile to the principles and traditions of the party, create unnecessary antagonism, cannot be enforced, and are a violation of the spirit of Republican government, and we will oppose the enactment of all such laws, and demand the repeal of those now existing."

"When the resolution relating to the Sunday-law repeal pledge was reached, O——, of Alameda, opposed the latter portion of that resolution, which pledged the party to the repeal of the Sunday Law. He said it was impolitic and fraught with danger to the party."

"R——, of Mendocino, proposed an amendment to the resolution referred to, striking out the latter part which had reference to a repeal. He argued at some length in favor of his motion, and while acknowledging his adherence to the old tradition of the Democratic party against sumptuary laws, claimed that the plank referred to was a firebrand thrown into the party and would antagonize the church vote."

"T——, of San Joaquin, was adverse to the motion, and said that he had been for twenty-five years. He deprecated the exercise of policy opposed to principle. The law was inoperative and foreign to the principles of the Democratic party, and, he believed, unconstitutional."

"W——, of Sonoma, professed his enmity to sumptuary legislation, and admitted the injustice and unconstitutionality of the Sunday Law, but he believed that the question of repeal should be left to the people, to be settled by them in the choice of their legislators."

"H——, of Los Angeles, advocated the motion, and said that his constituents were in favor of the Sunday Law, and many votes would be lost by the adoption of the plank in question."

"B——, of Fresno, favored the passage of the resolution on the ground of both policy and principle. As District Attorney of his county he had conducted twenty prosecutions for violations of this law and only succeeded in one case, which was reversed by the Supreme Court on the ground that the Superior Court had no jurisdiction."

"W——, of Los Angeles, opposed the motion."

"O——, of San Joaquin, believed it was the duty of the Convention to assert the principles of the party with regard to this as well as all other issues, and he hoped that the plank would be unaltered."

"M——, of Monterey, said that in Salinas City the Sunday Law was enforced, and that it would be inexpedient to advocate repeal."

It was finally decided, by a vote of 280 to 167, to adopt the resolution advocating the repeal of the Sunday Law. It will be readily seen that the Sunday Law question will not be an unimportant matter in the fall election. Many voters are pledged to sustain it, regardless of party, and should a sufficient number adhere to this resolution, both parties would soon be brought to terms, as the main question with the politicians is, "Is it politic?" We shall watch further developments with interest.