News From Congress by K. C. RUSSELL

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Washington, D. C. · Jan 18, 1906

News From Congress

By K. C. RUSSELL

It is now more than a month since the fifty-ninth Congress opened. The January number of Current Literature in speaking of this Congress says:—

“Unless the fifty-ninth Congress, which began its first session on December 4, proves to be one of the most interesting and important bodies that ever assembled itself in the Capitol, it will disappoint many observers and falsify many predictions.”

While it is true that much which will take place during this session of Congress which would be of the greatest interest to the politician and business man would not be regarded as especially interesting and important by Seventh-day Adventists, yet the indications bid fair to make it a session that will be a “most interesting and important” one even to us.

Long before Congress opened, we learned that shortly before the adjournment of the last Congress a resolution was presented and adopted directing the judiciary committee of the Senate to present to the Senate, within thirty days after the assembling of the present Congress, a form of constitutional amendment against polygamy. We also learned that the National Reformers were engaged in a campaign for the purpose of having the proposed amendment “contain an explicit acknowledgment of the moral laws of Jesus Christ as the basis and standard of our legislation relating to the family.” We at once saw revealed in this proposition of the National Reformers all that could be desired by them, if they were successful in securing the religious rider to the proposed amendment, in bringing about their long-cherished ambition for the complete union of church and state in this country. We forthwith began a counter-campaign by writing to the members of the judiciary committee and other Congressmen, setting before them plainly what underlies this wicked scheme of the National Reformers. The following are some of the replies received:—

“Dear Sir: Your letter of 2d inst. with reference to the abolition of polygamy, etc., is received. I have noted carefully all you state, and thank you for writing to me in this connection. I shall take pleasure in giving the matter about which you write my attention when it comes up for consideration in the Senate. Yours truly.”

“My dear Sir: I have your letter of January 5, and read it with interest. If the amendment of which you speak comes up in the Senate, I shall be glad to give it my most careful consideration and attention. Very truly yours.”

Another Senator says: “I am very glad to have your complete statement with reference to the proposed amendment to the Constitution which you talked to me about when you were here.”

“Dear Sir: I am in receipt to-day of your letter of date the 2d, calling attention to the desire of the National Reform Association to amend the anti-polygamy law with a rider which will secure to them a religious amendment to the Constitution of the United States. I will give this subject such attention as it requires. I do not imagine the anti-polygamy question will be considered until after the termination of the Smoot case now before the Senate. Yours truly.”

It will be seen from these replies that our efforts in presenting the principles involved in this issue have been appreciated.

Another Sunday Bill

The Sunday bill, H. R. 10510, the text of which is given in another article in this issue of the paper, was practically the very one which died in the House at the close of the fifty-eighth Congress last year. It was resurrected by the same representative who first introduced it. The friends of religious liberty who know the outcome of these things need not be surprised that another Sunday bill is before Congress, even though the Lord gave us a signal victory in defeating the Sunday bills for the District of Columbia last winter. It will be remembered that last winter, when interrogated regarding one of the bills, a congressman replied that he did not think it would pass; for the “seventh-day folks are opposing it.”

Should not the victory the Lord gave us at the last session of Congress be an encouragement to us this session to arouse ourselves to greater efforts than were put forth then; for the advocates of the Sunday sabbath will be stirred to greater and more persistent efforts to gain their desired object each time they are defeated? Hence we need a corresponding increase of earnestness in our work. It should not be forgotten by any that the great object to be obtained in our opposition to the Sunday bills and all other kinds of religious legislation is to bring the third angel’s message home to the hearts of the statesmen and others, and yet we desire to do all we can to hold in check religious intolerance and persecution until every honest soul is warned concerning the meaning of these things.

Petitions should be circulated again, and as many signatures received as possible from the same ones that signed before, and from others. The public press should be utilized to the very best advantage by those who are competent to write with the purpose of enlightening the public upon the true principles of religious liberty. Petition blanks will be supplied by the Religious Liberty Bureau the same as last year. We shall endeavor to supply each conference with them, where they can be secured by the members in their respective conferences.

K. C. RUSSELL.