THE "MORAL AND CIVIL RIGHT" OF A SUNDAY LAW.
SAYS a Christian minister, Mr. James Small:— "If there comes a time in the history of the Legislature in this state when they see fit to pass a Sunday law for the benefit of the people, I for one would certainly say the Legislature had a moral and civil right to do so." That is, the Legislature has the right to draw class lines between citizens of this state otherwise equal before the law. By the one act of a Sunday law it makes Sunday-keepers law-abiding citizens, while it declares that thousands of others—Sabbath-keepers, who before the law existed were law-abiding citizens, and who after the law pursue the same course as before—are criminals. This is not done by reason of a change in the Sabbath-keeper or in the Sunday-keeper; the state by religious class legislation exalts one class and abases another. If it be said that the Sabbath-keeper may rest on Sunday, then we reply: He has already rested on the day which he believes is set apart by divine command. He has as good right to keep this day as the Sunday-keeper has to keep Sunday. And now for the state to step in and demand that he shall keep another day is to compel him to pay a tribute of one-sixth of his time, or sixteen and two-thirds per cent of his income, to the belief of the Sunday-keepers; but the state does not require this of those who keep Sunday. There are still other considerations more far-reaching still. But in the light of these, are Sunday laws civilly or morally right?