The herald., 1894-08-19
MANS COLUMN.

run its course and been found wanting
like our indirect representative form o
religion of the various orthodox types
What we need in the body polite, az re
CARDS matters OF general welfare, il
direct representation on the part o
every responsible citizen. What We
need, likewise. in the body spiritual i!
direct representation, direct contac
with the supreme body spiritual. with
the good, inf1owing, pervasive soul o.
the universe, such direct communication
as Christ himeelf cultivated and en-
loyed. We shall then begin to regain
our sanity ae individuals, as a nation
we shall then begin to rise Godward
into wholeness, happiness, sanity.
There is no gainesying the fact, that
in spite OF our boasted material inven-
tlons and achievements, we are prey
| to all kinds of unrighteousnees which
can be conceived OF. "Already the class
of habitual culprits ia as large with US
rs in Europe, where it is estimated to
constitute between 40 and 30 per cent OF
convicts, for in the penal institutions
reporting to the bureau Of education
In 1882, 10 per cent of the inmates are
set Gown as incorrigibles, and 35 per
cent as returning to life of crime.
Homicide has increased to such an a
degree that, except in cases of peculiar
atrocity, 1t is popularity regarded almost
with indifference, till, as DR.. Andrew d.
White happily observes. the only taking
OF lie that Americans can object to
seems to be that which is done by
judicial process. The general diffu-
sion OF education, from which, gem
Grafton ago, SO much was expected, has
utterly failed, for statistics show that
literates contribute q larger percentage
| OF their class to the criminal ranks than
do the llliteratee. In spite OF the enor-
nous expenditure Of $50. 100000 per an
mum on police, Judiciary and prisons,
the class which lives by preying upon
society increases, and all discussion is to
be welcomed which will attract popular
attention to the magnitude of the evil
and excite thoughtful consideration as
to the measures best adapted to work a
much needed REFORM"
Doubtless Sylvester Baxter is right
when he says: Probably one of the
most mischievous delusions that has
taken possession of the minds OF the ma
lority OF those who control the affairs OF
our modern civilization is the inverted
view OF industrial relations that con-
fuses the means with the end. regarding
business se something to be fostered
for its own sake, rather than func-
ton for the service of the people;
and therefore regarding the people as a
mass of inert material to be exploited
for the profit of the business world. 1t
is this delusion that gives to our great
corporations their unspeakable arro-
typn in no. Oft do I'd
lie and that causes inquiries into their
methods TO be resented as interference
with matters of private concern 1t is
this delusion that gives to our multi.
millionaires their dangerous power over
the lives and fortunes of their fellows
and that causes them TO assume for
themselves the divine right to rule that
was once claimed by kings. 1t is this
deiusion that has just presented the as
founding spectacle of a great trust inso-
lently rising superior to the national
government itself, debating its policy,
and, first and last, to that end coolly
dispensing million or SO from it's over.
flowing treasury. 1t is this delusion
that practically delegates to great cor
porations the prerogative OF taxation
belonging to sovereign people and
that makes the latter pay roundly for
the privilege OF not serving them
sslvee.''
Now 1 would plead for heavens sweet.
est sake and for the good OF humanity,
let us begin to put away the indirect
ness, the crookedness of the civilization
Of today. Let us set about making our
paths, material and spiritual, straight.
Ard oh, ye ministers, priets, spiritual
leaders, do not tell the people to go a
roundabout way to their God, but urge
them to fling wide open the doors OF
their hearts, themselves, when, 10 they
will find the blessed Spirit waiting to
come in; lovingly desirous to help rid
them of their delusions and to make
them whole, happy, sane.
x*x
Retorm-All nature is in a state of
universal unreet. The death struggle of
old creeds and constitutions which,
being weighed in the balance of present,
are found wanting. The useless, de-
cayed branches OF life must be plowed
under, from which decomposition will
spring up the new tree of life, trans-
formed and reformed, according to the
divine laws of growth. which is now on
strike seeking expression in the
volcanic eruption OF patriotic discomfort
with the abused right OF representa-
tive government. When a right be-
comes wrong it is the duty of those
who confer or delegate the right to
withdraw the support. Death is life, a
higher life. We die to live and live to
die. Change is the law from the
highest to the lowest forms of life. |
Governments, like all organic life, live
by the healthy activity of secretion and |
excretion, internal and external, throw
ing off ef1ete matter, defunct laws and
customs. This operation often takes place |
unobserved and naturally by evolution
but when this is retarded by restrict !
i've measures, oppressive and unjust
laws, it comes by revolution, general |
turning round and over, as it were, a
thorough national cleaning up. This
work is much like the purging of NOR
bid individual system, when the natural
avenues of health have been ignorantly
or wilfully misused. Reform ia O rigid.
unchangeable tyrant, whose laws ope-
rate irrespective of persons. The wise
statesmen or doctors of law will advise.
prepare and direct a reform in the
growth Of the nation. Thomas Jefferson
said: "All governments need a COM
plete overthrow in every 25 years."
This was his estimate of the futility of
one generation in making rules in everv
particular for the next, and may be con-
strued to express nothing more radical
than succession of reforms, resulting
finally in new eystem of laws nv a