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closeness of these crowded rooms； and the noisome exhalations that
rise from the drains and kennels； and then laud the triumph of
religion and morality； which condemns people to drag their lives
out in such stews as these； and makes it criminal for them to eat
or drink in the fresh air； or under the clear sky。 Here and there；
from some half…opened window； the loud shout of drunken revelry
strikes upon the ear； and the noise of oaths and quarrelling … the
effect of the close and heated atmosphere … is heard on all sides。
See how the men all rush to join the crowd that are making their
way down the street； and how loud the execrations of the mob become
as they draw nearer。 They have assembled round a little knot of
constables； who have seized the stock…in…trade； heinously exposed
on Sunday； of some miserable walking…stick seller； who follows
clamouring for his property。 The dispute grows warmer and fiercer；
until at last some of the more furious among the crowd； rush
forward to restore the goods to their owner。 A general conflict
takes place； the sticks of the constables are exercised in all
directions； fresh assistance is procured； and half a dozen of the
assailants are conveyed to the station…house； struggling； bleeding；
and cursing。 The case is taken to the police…office on the
following morning； and after a frightful amount of perjury on both
sides； the men are sent to prison for resisting the officers； their
families to the workhouse to keep them from starving： and there
they both remain for a month afterwards； glorious trophies of the
sanctified enforcement of the Christian Sabbath。 Add to such
scenes as these； the profligacy； idleness； drunkenness； and vice；
that will be committed to an extent which no man can foresee； on
Monday； as an atonement for the restraint of the preceding day； and
you have a very faint and imperfect picture of the religious
effects of this Sunday legislation； supposing it could ever be
forced upon the people。
But let those who advocate the cause of fanaticism； reflect well
upon the probable issue of their endeavours。 They may by
perseverance； succeed with Parliament。 Let them ponder on the
probability of succeeding with the people。 You may deny the
concession of a political question for a time； and a nation will
bear it patiently。 Strike home to the comforts of every man's
fireside … tamper with every man's freedom and liberty … and one
month； one week； may rouse a feeling abroad； which a king would
gladly yield his crown to quell； and a peer would resign his
coronet to allay。
It is the custom to affect a deference for the motives of those who
advocate these measures； and a respect for the feelings by which
they are actuated。 They do not deserve it。 If they legislate in
ignorance； they are criminal and dishonest； if they do so with
their eyes open； they commit wilful injustice； in either case； they
bring religion into contempt。 But they do NOT legislate in
ignorance。 Public prints； and public men； have pointed out to them
again and again； the consequences of their proceedings。 If they
persist in thrusting themselves forward； let those consequences
rest upon their own heads； and let them be content to stand upon
their own merits。
It may be asked； what motives can actuate a man who has so little
regard for the comfort of his fellow…beings； so little respect for
their wants and necessities； and so distorted a notion of the
beneficence of his Creator。 I reply； an envious； heartless； ill…
conditioned dislike to seeing those whom fortune has placed below
him； cheerful and happy … an intolerant confidence in his own high
worthiness before God； and a lofty impression of the demerits of
others … pride； selfish pride； as inconsistent with the spirit of
Christianity itself； as opposed to the example of its Founder upon
earth。
To these may be added another class of men … the stern and gloomy
enthusiasts； who would make earth a hell； and religion a torment：
men who； having wasted the earlier part of their lives in
dissipation and depravity； find themselves when scarcely past its
meridian； steeped to the neck in vice； and shunned like a loathsome
disease。 Abandoned by the world； having nothing to fall back upon；
nothing to remember but time mis…spent； and energies misdirected；
they turn their eyes and not their thoughts to Heaven； and delude
themselves into the impious belief； that in denouncing the
lightness of heart of which they cannot partake； and the rational
pleasures from which they never derived enjoyment； they are more
than remedying the sins of their old career； and … like the
founders of monasteries and builders of churches； in ruder days …
establishing a good set claim upon their Maker。
CHAPTER III … AS IT MIGHT BE MADE
The supporters of Sabbath Bills； and more especially the extreme
class of Dissenters； lay great stress upon the declarations
occasionally made by criminals from the condemned cell or the
scaffold； that to Sabbath…breaking they attribute their first
deviation from the path of rectitude； and they point to these
statements； as an incontestable proof of the evil consequences
which await a departure from that strict and rigid observance of
the Sabbath； which they uphold。 I cannot help thinking that in
this； as in almost every other respect connected with the subject；
there is a considerable degree of cant； and a very great deal of
wilful blindness。 If a man be viciously disposed … and with very
few exceptions； not a man dies by the executioner's hands； who has
not been in one way or other a most abandoned and profligate
character for many years … if a man be viciously disposed； there is
no doubt that he will turn his Sunday to bad account； that he will
take advantage of it； to dissipate with other bad characters as
vile as himself； and that in this way； he may trace his first
yielding to temptation； possibly his first commission of crime； to
an infringement of the Sabbath。 But this would be an argument
against any holiday at all。 If his holiday had been Wednesday
instead of Sunday； and he had devoted it to the same improper uses；
it would have been productive of the same results。 It is too much
to judge of the character of a whole people； by the confessions of
the very worst members of society。 It is not fair； to cry down
things which are harmless in themselves； because evil…disposed men
may turn them to bad account。 Who ever thought of deprecating the
teaching poor people to write； because some porter in a warehouse
had committed forgery？ Or into what man's head did it ever enter；
to prevent the crowding of churches； because it afforded a
temptation for the picking of pockets？
When the Book of Sports； for allowing the peasantry of England to
divert themselves with certain games in the open air； on Sundays；
after evening service； was published by Charles the First； it is
needless to say the English