Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1903-11-21

olutions leads to a suspicion that tbs
conference failed to consider the con
victons of any but its own members
1t took such radical ground, assumed
an attitude so apparently dictatora
that it is likely to arouse opposition
more than make converts.
The underlying principles of the
Christian religon-and all other grea1
religions-are already written into the
codes of all civilized nations. Most OF
the decalogue is part of the statutes OF
such countries as have statutes. But
law is to control action not thought
1t is not the jailer of conscience or the
censor of religious conviction. Wise
lawgivers make law that may be en-
forced not that nullifies itself by the
weakness of intolerance. Law rarely
makes sentiment, but sentiment crys-
talizes into law. Ghod law as a rule
has general sentiment and support
back of its beginning. Lacking this
it fails of enforcement and better had
never been enacted. 1t might be pos
sible to enact the sermon on the mount
into the state statute, but even Mt
Rankin's proposed constabulary multi
piled seventy and seven times would be
unable to enforce It's observance. Good
law is built upon generally recognize
ed principle. 1t should allow the larg-
est Individual liberty consistent with
the rights o. the public. The basic
principles of the Christian religion ara
the buttresses of the civil law. But the
statutes are secular; they have nothing
to do with dogma, doctrine or sectar-
ianism.
There are many good citizens who
differ from the conference on the ques-
ton of Sunday newspapers and other
Sunday conveniences and even upon
Sunday amusements of a quiet and re-
spectacle character and their convic-
lions are to be respected. The Sunday
newspaper and Sunday transit service
are here to stay. Whether they are
unchristian or not. the world has de-
cided that it needs them, and what 1t
needs it keeps. 1t Is the concensus of
public opinion that no religious cult
shall be taught in the public schools.
and that the text book of Christianity
as we'll as those of other religions ir
not properly part of course of study
where the children Of Jews, Gentiles,
Mahommedans and Confucians are met
upon common ground, for common
purpose. There are many who believe
the biblical basis OF divorce Is only
one of many reasons why legal separ-
alton should be granted by the courts
that Sunday as day of surcease from
toll is properly provision of the stat
ute but that the religious observance
of the Sabbath belongs in the cathe-
chism more than in the code.
There is lack of knowledge of ex-
listing conditions in the resolutions. The
liquor traffic and the social evil are not
ccuses but effects. Neither is to be
entirely eracicated, but to be controlled
by legislation. There would be neither
saloons nor hagnios Of there We're no
patrons for such resorts. The burden
of their eradication rests as much upon
the teachers as the lawmakers. Until
human nature has lost those prorensi-
ties which degrade and drag down, the
laws must control rather than reform.
The trouble with the conference Is that
it demands impossibilities. Instead OF
fitting the laws to the people 1t Is at
tempting to DIT the people to the law. It's
resolutions are those OF the old maids
at mothers congress. There is pur-
itanic conscieniousness about them.
but there is little Of highly practical
value in the resolutions of the Oska-
loosa conference.