Southern standard. (McMinnville, Tenn.) 1879-current, 1889-09-28
Sunday ReaafHs,
EDITED BY REV. f. L. LEEPER.

In these words we have statement
Of the ends for which God has ordain-
ed the civil government. 1t is first
to protect and encourage that which
is goodnight, just and honest
among men. Government is the
bond of society that by which hui
man society in the sphere of the pure
ly moral is enabled to develop itself
toward a better and higher condition.
Among none of its functions are there
any that is more important or more
solemn, than that of meteing out JUS
tice to all, without fear or favor. The
courts of any government constitute
the highest and most important
functions of that government. In
this country it is a matter OF much
greater Importance to every man who
and what kind of man sits upon the
lowest judgement seat, before which
each may be brought upon charges
that involve life or liberty, than who
or what kind of man is President.
Not that the latter is of small impOr-
lance, but that the former is of SUI
preme importance. The judge upon
the bench holds much more impor-
tant position than any other officer in
the government. To him is entrust-
ed the very questions that are vital to
society's well-being. Let our courts
fall into the hands of incompetent or
unfaithful men, and the very fOunda-
tions are destroyed.
The ideal court is one that never
Furnishes an innocent man, and never
lets guilty man escape. God puts
this-his own court-before us as the
ideal after which our earthly courts
are constantly to strive. The court is
ordained of God to teach the evil that
the way of the transgressor is hard.
Every man who violates law, and es-
capes the penalty, is menace to the
very vital principles of society. In
fact of two evils, Furnishing an inno-
cent man, .or letting guilty man es-
cape, the latter is the greater. If l
have upon my fingers gangrenous
sore, it is better to have one of the
well fingers cut off along with the
sore in order to save the well one.
Every law-breaker is grangrenous
sore upon the body of society. II
any man takes the law into his own
hand and Stays fellow-man, in that
act he has made threat against ev-
cry man in that state. His act de.
clares himself to be king over socie.
ty; himself the judge and executor o.
that law; and his determination tC
administer the severest penalty tC
any who dare rouse those passions
He is tried, and upon some fiimsy
technicality of law or favor Of court
acquitted. He has measured arms
with society; he has challenged thu
law, and been victorious. Tomorrow
in the legitimate discharge of M!
business / rouse his evil passions ant
my life is taken. Every thief VIII,
goes unwhipped of justice makes ev
cry mans property insecure. In ev
cry criminal case, the state-that i
every law-abiding man, woman AM
child-stend upon their own prope
self defence in the prosecution of tn
offender, and if he be guilty, ough
to seek with all their might his con
viction and punishment.
The courts fulfill their true en-
only when they insure the punish
ment of the guilty. So the attorne
who fills the Office of prosecutor of
criminal, fills the very highest otfiC
a lawyer may attain short of the jud
cial bench. He ought thoroughly
examine the case, and if satisfied {
the guilt of the man, he ought to ben
every energy and use every lawfl
means to secure his conviction, an
in so doing he is most honOrably en-
ployed. He represents every la
abiding citizen of the state, and i
pleading for the conviction of II
guilty, he is pleading for the securit
of the life or of the property of ever
man. 1t is not vengeance for Ii
dead that is sought in the convictio
of the murderer, any more than re
titutiOn in the conviction of the thei
it is the security of the life Of ever
living man from the evil passions
evil men. The law ought to say,
the quick and sure conviction of e'
cry man who kills for any other pu
pose than the absolute necessity
saving his own life, this man who
you killed was under the laws speci
protection to be protected from yol
AviI ,,ocSiDpa and non, fhot oil m,