The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1906-01-28

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that they may have the careful con-
sideration of Governor Hoch. and that
he may profit by them. They are
meant to be practical. The editorial
Sermons" which appear in this col
umn from week to week are all meant
to be Of practical benefit to the read
ers of this paper, and it is sincerely
hoped that they prove SO. Therefore
these lines are not penned in any spirit
of undue criticism, but with the hope
that they may be helpful and stimulat-
ing to the chief executive of Kansas in
meeting the serious situation which has
been confronting him for weeks.
Away back in the early history Of
the Jewish nation Saul's reign started
out most promisingly. He was victori-
Gus over his enemies and his people
We're prosperous. In the course Of his
reign the Lord, through the prophet
Samuel, told Saul to attack the wicked
Amalekites and to utterly destroy
them and all their property. This was
a law given King Saul for enforcement.
The account of the way he did it is
told in the fifteenth chapter of
Samuel.
Saul took his army and smote the
EAlaldlEklLESf Dul 44lSLCcltA u tANNSAAJ III
stroying them, which was the law
given him for enforcement. he allowed
those under him to spare Agag, king
of the Amalekites, with the best of
their property. What sort of a pull
Agag had with Saul the account does
not state.
Then came the word of the Lord
unto Samuel, saying, I repenteth me
that / have set up Saul to be king: for
he hath turned back from following
me, and hath not performed my COM
mandments.' And it grieved Samuel
and he cried unto the Lord all night"
On Saul's return Samuel went out
to meet him, and the king pretended
that he had enforced the law.
Blessed be thou of the Lord, he
said to Samuel 81 have performed
the commandment of the Lord
Then Samuel demanded to know
what meant the bleating of the
sheep and the lowing of the oxen
when he heard, and here is the kings
/ explanation"
YEA. / have obeyed the voice of the
Lord and have gone the way which
1 the Lord sent me, and have brought
Agag the king of Amalek, and have
utterly destroyed the Amaleldtes.
but the people took of the spoil,
sheep and oxen, the chief things that
should have been utterly destroyed, to
sacrifice unto the Lord the God III
GilgaI"
You will notice that Saul tried to
fall back on to popular sentiment fol-
not enforcing the law. But no excuses
or explanations" could fool Samuel
"BehoId, to obey is better than sac
rihce," Samuel said, land to hearkeI
than the fat of rams. For rebellion
is as the sin of witchcraft, and stub
/ bornness is as. iniquity and idolatry-
because thou hast rejected tn
word of the Lord. he hath also re
jected thee from being king
That is the story of how King Sau
neglected to enforce the law upoi
Agag, and allowed the people to graf
the spoils of war which the law san
should be destroyed and he finally die
a suicide.
Governor Hoch stands in the sam
relation to the people Of Kansas toda.
that King Saul stood in to the chill
dren of Israel. Upon him devolVes IN
enforcement of law. He is showing
. disposition to avoid enforcing that LAY
which SAYS that grating in the stat
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3 DAVIS Dunishments are by no means a
severe as they were in the days whe
the human race was young, but the
ebould he enforced just the same.
Before he was elected goYerno
Governor Hoch made a solemn prom
Use that if elected he would investigat
the state treasury charges. and if h
found them true he would punish tn
T077nd
trIe and more, too. Why does he hes
/ tate?
Y Tt is the governors nature to b
e s,-,,nat betic with those who do wronl
T This is commendatory as a private II
4 7iz-i5laI but not so in an executiN
v Who has sworn to uphold the law
>. rake YOUR Bible, and note the sun
e mary punishments that are recorde
there concerning grafters. The stori'
of Gehazi and Ananias and his vii
s we're recorded in these columns la
b sunday. but turn to the seventh chal
Y Ter of Joshua and read the story
If Achan.
Israel was defeated in a battle, an
when Joshua, the prophet, sought tt
reason from the Lord he was told thu
N If was because some one had bee
n stealing. and he was commanded
NJ search for the wrong-doer and destrC
him with all his family and propert
Joshua. instituted sort of grand Jul
n and the guilt was fixed on Acha
d And when Achan saw there was
is escape he confessed that he was simp
v an ordinary CRATER.
eli sWhen I saw among the spoils,"
). said. "a goodly BabyIonish garner
d and two hundred shekels of gold, al
Of a wedge of gold of fifty shekels weigh
?. then I coveted them; and, behold, tn
Or are hid in the earth in the midst
< nv tent. and the silver under it.
Sc And notwithstanding his confessi'
Mt and his restoration of the goods, Il
Id penalty of the law, severe as it WE