BACKWARD STATES by W. N. Glenn

Pacific Press Publishing Company · Mountain View, California · May 10, 1905

FromSigns of the Times, Vol. 31, No. 19.

"BACKWARD STATES."

By W. N. Glenn

IN the Washington, D. C., Post, of April 3, Dr. W. F. Crafts indulges in one of his characteristic tirades against Seventh-day Adventists and the truth they are giving to the world. He refers sarcastically to "the few instances where, in backward states, some of them may have been fined for violation of Sunday laws, and imprisoned because they would not pay the fines, or allow others to do so." Apologizing for the present attempt to commit the general government to a policy of state religion, he would ascribe the past experience of the people in the working out of such principles to the action of "backward states." It should be remembered, however, that the instances which Mr. Crafts cites were merely the result of enforcing laws such as are on the statute books of nearly all the states.

It should also be remembered that this man who now speaks in an impliedly disparaging manner of those "few instances" of persecution, did himself indorse and encourage such persecution; moreover, he spent considerable time in California, engaged in a special effort to bring this state into the category of "backward states," by securing a state Sunday law, with, of course, the end in view that it should be enforced in the same manner as in the other "backward states." It is difficult to understand the logic of the argument that religious state laws are so beneficial to the people, while only the "backward states" enforce them. Such states as Massachusetts, Maryland, Pennsylvania, Illinois, Tennessee, etc., will hardly appreciate the compliment of being styled "backward states" by this champion of religious legislation.

But what shall we say of Mr. Crafts's efforts for several years to have the general government enact for all the country such laws as those which "backward states" enforced in a "few instances." He has taken an active part in several such efforts, and it is well that he recognizes that such a course is a "backward" step—if the religious laws he seeks should be enacted and enforced. Persecution is the logical outcome of all enforced religious legislation, and such legislation is therefore a "backward" step for any country in which a separation of church and state is a fundamental principle.

From the current reports of activity in the matter of enforcing Sunday laws throughout the country, it would appear that a number of states are just now rapidly falling into line as "backward states," and it is this growing sentiment that gives encouragement to the persistent efforts of certain individuals, associations, bureaus, etc., to commit the national government to the same "backward" course.

W. N. GLENN.