Hutchinson gazette. [volume] (Hutchinson, Kan.) 1895-1902, 1895-12-12


justice. There 10 nothing that needs
saving so much as a civilization that is
guided by no great ethical principle,
and that marches on without any re-
gard for God and his righteousness.
The country that boasts Of such a ciVili-
cation is on the high road to anarchy,
nihilism and barbarism.
Civilization Is not cause, but an
effect. 1t is the product of human char
acter. 1t expresses the good and evil
in the hearts of the people who sup
port it. Any government is just what
the people make it. If state or NUM-
cipal government legallzes or tolerates
such an iniquity as bull fight or
gambling house, or a bar room, or an
indecent theatrical exhibition, 1t Is be-
cause the
PEOPLE ARE DEPRAVED ENOUGH
to desire 1t.
THE fountain Of any civilization 10
in the character Of the people. If the
civilization Is corrupt, 1t Is because
corruption reIgns in the hearts Of the
people. This being true, civilization
can be cleansed only by cleansing the
people.
"As long as the people have but little
moral sensibility and feeble apprecia-
ton Of the distinctions which God
makes between right and wrong, there
will be
CLASS LEGISLATION, DESPOTIC
MONOPOLIES,
political rings, bribery and ballOt-box
stuffing. A righteous civilization can
be secured and maintained only by
people who love and practice righteous
ness. We are like those foolish Gala
tians, whom Paul describes as be-
witched.' We have been 'bewitched'
by false teachers.
What, then, is our hope? How can
society be redeemed? How can our
civilization be transformed? How can
the state be 80 reconstructed as to fur
nish adequate protection to Its subjects
and to all of their legitimate interests?
Our answer to each Of these questions
is: BY. substituting for the law of self
interest which now dominates our So
cial life the law Of loVe-the law Of
self-sacrifice-the law which Christ IL
Illustrated when he became poor that we,
through His poverty, might be rich
the law which makes each man
HIS BROTHERS KEEPER
and requires US to bear one another's
burdens.
"Is 1t your purpose to be useful to
your fellow men? II that is not your
purpose, and your supreme purpose,
you have no claim upon the respect Of
mankind. II you intend to be disci-
pie Of Cain and repudiate all obliga-
ton to care for your brother man, you
deserve to be treated as Cain was
BRANDED AS AN OUTLAW.
II you will not be your brothers keeper
and burden-bearer, you are his enemy.
You will seize every opportunity to de-
fraud, Cypress and degrade him. The
spirit that controls you will make you
A MONOP0LIST OR A GAMBLER,
or bank robber, or an anarchist, or a
nihllist.
But II your purpose is to be useful
useful not only to yourself and your
family, but to the whole world--your
life must be a sacrifcial life. You must
look out over the wide world and rec
ognize every man in 1t as your neigh
Dor, and feel your obligation to help
him as far as God gives you the ability
and opportunity. To serve your day
and generation according to the will of
God and make an enduring contribu-
ton to
THE WELFARE OF THE RACE,
you must make an obligation of your
possessions and of yourself.
When men in all vocations who
claim to be Christians heartily accept
this doctrine and conform their lives
to 1t, we shall see Christianity grow as
1t has never grown. We shall see So
ciety quickly cleansed Of its present
pollutions. We shall see the state
purged Of all injustice and faYoritism.
we shall see
STRIFES BETWEEN LABOR AND
CAPITAL CEASE,
and throughout all our borders a reign
Of righteousness, contentment and pros
perity.
ITO REDEEM society-to remove It
from its present basis Of seinshness