Sunday Law Agitation in California.
By Editor
TWO YEARS ago at the California State election the principal issue between the Republican and Democratic parties was the Sunday law. As the result of that election a Democratic Legislature was elected, which repealed the law making it a crime to labor on Sunday. The recent election has changed the political complexion of the California Legislature, making it strongly Republican, which gives the advocates of a penal Sunday law a hope that by vigorous agitation, and by bringing the united influence of all the churches to bear upon the legislators, they may secure a re-enactment of the law which was repealed two years ago. At a recent meeting of the Oakland churches, a committee was appointed to bring the subject before all the evangelical churches of the State, and to see that proper petitions are prepared, and as many signatures as possible obtained. Dr. McLean, of the First Congregational Church, Oakland, who is the leader of this movement, was appointed to read a paper at the next meeting of the Congregational Club, on "How to Get a Suitable Sunday Law." It is useless to speculate as to what this movement will amount to. We do not look for any definite result at present, more than to keep the interest of the people alive, and prepare them for the final movement by and by, which will be successful. Outside of those church people who make it a matter of principle to force others to accept their own views, the people of California do not yet see any special necessity for such a law. Eastern people no doubt imagine that since the repeal of the Sunday Law, California has been under a curse, that crime has run riot, and that Sundays have been given up to rowdyism. This idea has been constantly presented by the Christian Statesman. There never was a greater mistake. Sunday is as well observed in California to-day as it was before the repeal of the law. There are no more Sunday excursions, picnics, base ball games, horse races, boat races, prize fights, etc., now than there were before. Men who have lived in this State more than a score of years, affirm that the repeal of the law made not a particle of difference in the amount of Sunday business and pleasure. Of Oakland we can speak especially, that it is a model of quietness on Sunday. There is nothing to disturb the peace of worshipers on that day, except the parade of the Salvation Army, with its big drum; and that doesn't disturb them, because the members of the Army are themselves Sunday keepers. Nevertheless the law will certainly be re-enacted in time, and will be enforced. Of this we are as certain as we are that its passage will be an act of the grossest injustice,—a return to the methods of the Dark Ages.