Burnham Kilgore on 19th Century Sunday Closing Laws
As an illustration of the despotism of the majority in matters of individual right, witness the closing of the Exposition on Sunday. The right of conscience is, in general, acknowledged; but, says the Christian community, “the majority of this nation are Christians, and the majority rule demands the recognition of the Christian idea of Sunday in our laws and institutions; hence you must submit.” Thus, by this majority rule, the right of conscience of the minority is entirely ignored. That this nation is a Christian nation, is almost the only argument used by those who are zealously striving to place the Christian's God in the United States Constitution. This is but another application of the majority rule which ignores the rights of the minority.
Carrie Burnham Kilgore. “Democracy.” Speech to the 1876 Congress of the National Liberal League
