Not Content With Moral Suasion by K. C. R.

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Takoma Park Station, Washington, D. C. · Sep 7, 1911

Not Content With Moral Suasion

By K. C. R.

The Town and Country Journal, of San Francisco, Cal., for July 15, 1911, contains nearly a column editorial on the Sunday closing of the Sacramento (Cal.) post-office. It quotes from Mr. Richardson, president of the Postmasters’ League. From the editorial it is plain that the success which has attended the efforts in the Sunday closing of post-offices will encourage the friends of Sunday closing to seek to have it include all other branches of business; for the editorial says:—

“The success in doing away with mail distribution, so far as the carriers are concerned, on Sundays naturally gives rise to the question, Why should not much other Sunday work be abolished?”

It has been the hope of those who see the evils of Sunday closing required by civil law, that the promoters of this crusade against Sunday closing of post-offices would confine their efforts in this direction to the arousing of public sentiment by moral suasion. But, no! Already a bill has been introduced into Congress which, if passed, will require the closing of post-offices on Sunday throughout the United States. Here is a copy of the bill, known as H. R. 9433, which was introduced by the Hon. James R. Mann, of Illinois, May 16, 1911:—

“Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, That hereafter post-offices shall not be opened on Sunday for the purpose of delivering mail to the public.”

To this method of closing the post-offices, we are firmly and unalterably opposed. In the first place, it is an attempt to settle by legislation the controversy as to the day of the Sabbath; in the second place, it is an attempt on the part of the state to enforce one of the ordinances of the church; and in both these respects is an attempt to unite church and state in this country.

Religious Liberty Leaflet, No. 15, entitled “The Famous Congressional Sunday Mail Reports,” should be circulated now like the leaves of autumn.

K. C. R.