Not Toleration but Freedom.
An exemption clause in a religious law is evidence of the intrinsic badness of the law. It says in effect, as in the present Sunday bill before the Legislature of this State, "We, a certain religious class, condemn all kinds of labor, recreation, and performances of every kind which are not in harmony with our creed. We will 'tolerate' those who conscientiously observe another day, providing they do not 'disturb'—a wonderfully elastic word—us." But why should not the man they tolerate have the same privileges as they? Why should he be exempted upon "conditions"? Has he not the same rights as his neighbor? In true Americanism there is no such word or thing as toleration. If I hold to true religious liberty, I will be most anxious that my neighbor and opponent should have equal right with myself, to think and act for himself. Only so can I win him.