The mirror. (Stillwater, Minn.) 1894-1925, 1907-04-11
1awOand Hts Relation to Justice.

Vo oTo SOcloCy OF men OF experience
and average intelligence, we are gifted
with the power of observation, and
possess fair knowledge of human ma
ture-therefOre, it is reasonable to say
that we all know the exactions OF Ma
tare's laws. Every transgression has
its specific penalty. To illustrate: If
one lives life of dissipation he be-
comes physical wreck, If he INDUCES
himself without proper restraint he
may also become mental wreck-in
short, BY violations of Natures laws he
may become, literally speaking, a dead
man even tho he still breathes; he may
be aged yet in years young, or, as we
sometimes hear, fill All early grave.
Why? Because he persisted in violat-
ing the laws of Nature. And vet. l
maintain, that justice is superior to
Natures laws. For instance, take the
degraded creature who falls into the
gutter, a mental and physical wreck,
made so by unrestrained indulgence in
oestlal passions, or by incessant use of
drugs; the being who has led an i'm
proVident life and become degenerated
morally and inteilectuaI-I repeat, take
such person to sanatorium, and you
may soon note marvellous change i'll
the person. Here we have, SO to
speak, one who has repeatedly violated
Natures laws and divine laws, yet, in
a few months he may become trans
formed man.
Some may say the change is due to
the fact that the erring one has re-
formed. But hold it is because JUS
tice Is superior to natural law, The
laws of Mature are nothing more or less
than Gods DEGREES. The person who
Violates the natural law may repent
and be saved; the one who disobeys the
divine commandments may repent and
be saved, and it doesn't matter what
kind of career one has led. The mo-
ment his repentance is sincere. then
divine and natural is superseded by
Justice. This is the experience of man.
kind; | will venture to say the true
doctrine of Christianity. Had Babylon,
the prodigate, ceased her iniquities and
obeyed the laws of Nature, submitted
to the divine DEGREES she would have
been saved. Had Judas Iscariot re-
pented as Peter did he would have
been saved. Had Plate repented as
Ephraim die he would have been saved.
Had the people of Edom buried their
pride the city would not have. been de.
stroyed. If the foregoing does not up
hold the contention that justice is par
amount to divine and natural laws.
then, respectfully ask, what is the
use OF exhorting sinners to repent?
Passing to a consideration of mans
laws our first query is: What are they
for! Various answers might be set
forth, but human enactments are, brief
~, for the guidance of human conduct
III our relations, or dealings, with each
other. Their foundation being COM
mon sense and reason, so that justice
may be accorded to.every person. And
the laws of man are, presumably, so
framed as to fulfill the will of our Gre
ator. The Good Book says, in effect,
That no man is capable of judging
another. This is an irrefutable fact,
but man judges man according to the
light that is given him. And our laws,
as DIR. Johnson says, "are the result of
human wisdom, acting on human ex-
perience.".;
Ii our laws are, at times, opposed to
the spirit of reason and justice they
are declared unconstitutional, for learn
ed sages strive to incorporate impartl-
ality and fairness into the body of all
laws. IT they appear to fail in such ef-
forts, it cannot be considered fault of
man, rather it is due to imperfection
OF the will. In the course of duty, and
zeal for the protection of society,
judges pass sentences on their fellow
men. Their sworn duty is to apply
laws as they sre laid down in the codes.
They are confronted first with one of
the most palpable errors that ever re-
ceived recognition by man; the fact
that ignorance is no excuse for violat-
ing laws. If common sense and reason
are the basis of law how does such a
principle agree with such maxim ?