THE excitement on the question of Sunday closing of theaters in Denver seems to have been felt as far as Oakland, Cal., for:
The German-American Political Club held a meeting and adopted the following resolutions:—
“WHEREAS, A movement is under way, instigated by certain parties, having for its object the closing of the theaters of Oakland on Sundays, therefore be it
“Resolved, That we, as citizens of this great Republic, most energetically protest against what we conceive to be an infringement upon our rights and liberties; and, furthermore, that we consider the visiting of a decent theater on Sunday as innocent recreation after six days of labor and toil; and we further think such efforts are contrary to the Constitution of the United States, which does not recognize State religion, and consequently can not endorse a one-sided edict for the keeping of Sunday, which we consider a day of rest.”
The question is not as to whether it is a proper or a profitable way to spend Sunday, or any other evening, at the theater. But it is a very important question by what right either the ministerial alliance or the city ordinances shall say that the Denverites, or the German-Americans of Oakland, may not go to the theater if they see fit on any evening they choose.
THE latest word from the “Adventist cases” at Paris, Tenn., is this: “The remaining case for possible trial at this term of court was continued yesterday on affidavit by the Attorney-General that the State could not safely go to trial because of the absence of important witnesses. It is almost certain that no conviction can ever be had in the case. The charge of the Judge in the Dortch case was such as to make it almost impossible to convict any one of Sunday work unless the work were done in an exceedingly open and public manner.”
The present status of the persecution of Seventh-day Adventists in Tennessee is worthy of careful notice. These cases have attracted the attention of candid, clear-minded, and able, lawyers and legislators. These men, having a correct view of the purpose and intent of law and legislation, realize the error, the inequity, the inconsistency of existing law under which such persecutions can be had. To have called to the defense of truth, those who love truth, and right, and justice, for their own sake is much. But the greater thing yet remains for all,—to still stand for its defense in the coming day of its seeming defeat and ignominy.
COMMENTING on the growing tendency toward the strict enforcement of Sunday laws in this city the New York Sun says:
Many of the Jewish people living here, who keep their own Sabbath on the seventh day of the week, complain of the wrongfulness of enforcing the Sunday law against them, thus compelling them to refrain from business and labor during two days of every week or more than one-quarter of each month.
Two Jewish storekeepers have been arrested this week for selling goods on Sunday, and both of them were held in bail by the Justice of the Jefferson Market Court. Two Jewish manufacturers were also arrested this week for running their factories on Sunday, and both of them were discharged by the Justice of the Tombs Police Court. The respective Justices differed in their interpretation of the laws. It is evident from these facts that the Sunday laws are in an unsatisfactory state. In holding the two storekeepers on Monday, Justice Koch told them that he regretted the necessity of doing so. “No law,” he said, “should exist which discriminates between people of different religions. You people keep your Sabbath, and a law obliging you to stop business on another day, and thus lose two days in the week, appears to me unjust.”
In this city the Jews, who now number over one-sixth of the whole population, are desirous of securing a revision of the Sunday laws, and some of the leading men among them are preparing to seek relief from the State legislature.
The Sun has heretofore indicated the correct basis upon which relief should be had,—namely the entire repeal of all Sunday laws. But if this should be asked of the State legislature would the Sun now uphold this large proportion of the population in its just and wise request? Some late editorial utterances of the Sun go to show that it would not.