The Reason For Sunday Laws

The Chicago Advance defends the code of Sunday laws as follows: "The basis of these lavrs is the public welfare. The people desire a day for rest; therefore they, through their representad ves, prohibit all work.exceptof neressity or mercy. They desire a day for quiet, thereiore they prohibit games and certain atuusements. They desire the day for worship, therefore they prohibit all molestation in going to or returning from the church, and all disturbance while assembled. These laws are designed to grant to the individual the fullest liberty to spend the Sabbath as he desires, provided he does not abridge the equal liberty of any other individual. They are intended to promote the greatest good of the greatest number. They do not command attendance at religious services. They donotenforceacts of piety. They do not suggest any mode of Sunday observance. xhey are enacted on the supposition that a large body of the people deaire toattend religious services; and the laws assertthat this desire shall be satisfied without interruption or hindranee. They are enacted on the supposition that a large body of people desire to perform acts of piety; and the laws are designed to protect them in performing these acts. They are enacted on the supposition that a large body of people desire to en joy the quiet and rest of home; these laws are intended to grant this enjoyment without disturbance from games or carriages. As has been said by an eminent legal authority: "Their purpose is to guarantee impartially that the masses shall enjoy a stated day dur ing which there shall not be needless demands of ordinary business, or attractions and temptations of ezciting amusements, or interruptions of noise and tumult, preventing or hindering those from worshipping who wish to worship, those from meditatine or studying who wish to do so, those from resting who need repose."