The Maryville times. (Maryville, Tenn.) 1884-1944, 1886-09-08
HOW TO CURE.

Repressfve Measures Not Enough - I'M
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 ut 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
doing. Children, youth, men of ma
ture years, and even aged persons, and
persons in all positions, give themselves
up to practices of wickedness. With OPP
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
least in most cases-it is well known
that they are so poorly executed as to
be of only half value. Now and then a
community grows virtuous under some
sudden smart of injury, and gives its
statutes vigorous enforcement; 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 pcnitentiaries 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 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 dc
this it is necessary to get them to fee
that what they do wrongly is sinful
and criminal, and that it is made SC
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-
ing 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 moi
spare the guilty, are truths that car
not be too carefully inculcated.
But even this is not enough. 1t il
the duty we owe to God, and which We
are to do willingly and gladly, tina
should most impress and move us. HI
asks our obedience and service, no
alone that we may escape rebuke anC
| retllDutlOn lOr refusing, Out tnaU WI
may show our acknowledgement O
Him and His authority, and pay Him ,
becoming tribute. The love of Chris
is to constrain us. 1t is feeling that
is too prevalent in society that there il
no other motive to obedience than the
fear of punishment. The other ant
higher motive, of love to God and re
spect for what is His, is left too greatly
out of sight These are truths which, il
these days of reform and reformers
must not be forgotten. Good laws
we'll executed evil-doers held to strc
account and subjected to argorous pun
ishment-are indispensable, but o
grcaterimportance is the carefulinstruc
ton which will make men see and low,
God and get the motives for their be
havior from His infallble truth. TIL,
man who holds up the cross, and as al
ambassador for Christ beseeches men t,
be rcconciled to God, has more sacre,
mission than one who merely conduct
crusade against evil and wages wa
upon the devil. United Presbyterian.