Thomas County cat. [volume] (Colby, Kan.) 1885-1891, 1886-09-16
HOW ITO CURE.

Repressive Measures Not Enough - Inn
portant Truths Which Should Not Be
Forgotten.
When we read the newspapers moth
ing impresses us more than the record
they furnish of sin and crime. 1t is
conceded that they make an effort
many of them at least-to gather up
such news, and are less earnest in col
lecting other and better; but the fact
remains that society is full of evil
Ioing. Children, youth, men of ma
ture years, and even aged persons, and
persons in all positions, give themselves
up to practices of wickedness. With op-
portunities SO frequent, and the coun-
try SO large and varied, the forms of
iniquity must be very many. and hence
the diversity of detail that we see in the
current chronicles.
1t is only natural that certain people.
seeing so much wrong-dOing, believe
there should be more punishment, and
that the rigors of society should be in
creased Perhaps their belief Is right;
for though we have laws enough-at
that they are SO poorly executed as to
be of only. half value. Now and then a
community grows virtnous under some
sudden smart of injury, and gives its
statutes vigorous endorsements; but
when the spasm passes it sinks
into the old carelessness, and the
laws are less useful than they
were before. The repressive meas
ures we employ, though thus used
SO faulty, are necessary and do good
service. We can not get along with
out them. They will not be set aside.
Jails and penitentiaries will not 60 out
of fashion; fines, imprisonments for
life, and even hanging, must be among
the usages of our imperfect society.
The thorough use of penalty, not in
a spirit Of vengeance, but to vindicate
the law and promote Righteousness, is
one of the signs of a good civilization.
But the evil will not be cured by
this method alone Teaching men by
these practical lessons instructing
them, at the same time, in good morals
will not make them moral. To do
this it is necessary to get them to feel
that what they do wrongly is sinful
and criminal, and that it is made so
because of their relation to. a higher
power. So soon as one frees himself
from the thought that there is God
who watches over him, and who will
call him to account for his deeds, he is
in situation when, temptation be-
inc presented to him, he will easily
fall into it. He needs to know that
the holy God is sovereign. and that He
has His penalties for those who break
His law; and also that the processes in
use in society for Furnishing offenders
are based upon His principles of eter-
nal righteousness. That sin is sin. that
crime is crime, and that God will not
spare the guilty, are truths that can
not be too carefully inculcated. =.
But even this is not enough. 1t is
the duty we owe to God, and which we
are to do willingly and gladly, that
should most impress and move us He
asks our obedience and service, not
alone that we may escape rebuke and
retribution for refusing. but that we
may show our acknowledgement of
Him and His authority. aud pay Him a
becoming tribute. The love of Christ
is to constrain us. 1t is feeling that
is too prevalent in society that there is
no other motive to obedience than the
fear of punishment. The other and
higher motive, of love to God and re-
spect for what is His, is left too greatly
out of sight. These are truths which, in
these days of reform and rcformers,
must not he forgotten. Good laws
well cXecutedAevil-doer held toa strict
account and subjected to a rlgorous pun
ishment--are Indispensable, but of
greaterimportance is the carefulinstruc-
ton which will make men see and love
God and getsthe, motives for their be-
havior from His infalfible truth. The |
man who holds mp the cross, and as an
ambassadorfor Christ beseeches men to |
be reconciled to God, has more sacred !
mission than one who merely conducts |
a crusade against evil and wages war
upon the devil.-United Presbyterian.
GIN ANN SllEEERlMG