p. 20 | An Earnest Protest

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Tacoma Park Station, Washington, D. C. · Jun 4, 1908

An Earnest Protest

[The following remonstrance against religious legislation, with three hundred ninety signatures appended, was forwarded from Battle Creek, Mich., to the senior Senator from that State.—ED.]

Senator J. C. Burrows,

Washington, D. C.

HONORABLE SIR: In view of the existing conditions at the national capital, we, the undersigned, can not do less than to forward to you this earnest protest.

It appears that the halls of Congress have been, and are being, besieged by a class of religious enthusiasts, who, in their zeal, are clamoring for, and bringing every possible pressure to bear to induce the federal government to commit itself to, religious legislation. (See substitute for Senate Bill No. 3940.)

The various Sunday bills now before Congress are but the thinly disguised entering point of the wedge; but if this be permitted to enter, the butt end will follow as surely as to-morrow follows to-day.

The observance of Sunday is a religious observance; all history proves it such. But if physical rest were the object sought, one day would do as well as another. Nature, or the God of nature, has wisely set apart a portion of each day for physical rest.

It would grieve the undersigned exceedingly to see our country, in response to the demands of these misguided, self-styled National Reformers, enter on a course entirely subversive of, and destructive to, those very principles which have hitherto been her pride and her glory and the source of her great prosperity.

The eternal principle of right, which our revered forefathers incorporated into our Constitution, and on which they founded and established this nation, have been lost sight of or repudiated, by those men who are now clamoring for religious legislation. Those principles and that foundation have been the secret and source of our national prosperity.

It is not extravagant—it is but the sober truth—to say that human liberty and the perpetuity and safety of this nation are in graver peril to-day at the hands of these mistaken religious zealots than ever they were by the armies of the Southern Confederacy, and time will vindicate this statement. That was open warfare; this is insidious but deadly poison.

We should never forget that we are making history. When the legislative acts of to-day shall have borne their fruits, and time has revealed to all the character of those fruits, in what light then will the legislators appear?

The crying need of the hour is for staunch patriots in the national Congress; men who at any and all cost to themselves, will take their unyielding stand for the right in opposition to any and every move or step in the direction of a union of church and state.

We therefore solemnly protest against this whole scheme of religious legislation, and call on you, and all other patriotic and right-minded senators to oppose it to the very last.

We respectfully subscribe ourselves, honorable sir, as interested citizens of this great commonwealth.