The Greenville times. [volume] (Greenville, Miss.) 1868-1917, 1907-03-16


run the reform wagon past the goal
into the ditch. Then they will point
with pride upon the wreck Such
wisdom is not entirely new. Such
caution than, Don't become fanat-
ics," would be Don't submit to fan
atics,' for fanatics in such movements
are generally foes at heart and not
friends
The last resort of the lawless is
open opposition. The nature OF this
opposition may be judged from the
class. An uncivilized country need
not be expected to obey the law OF
nations. The first weapon thrust
will probably be ridicule. This note
has already sounded-"You can't
make Christians by law Nobody
ever dreamed of making Christians
by law" Such doctrine belongs TO
the Dark Ages. No church would
receive them if they had been won by
such means Besides the motive that
prompted the present movement was
not to make Christians at all, but
to make citizens. There IS no power
to enforce the laws of God; there are
powers to enforce the laws of the
land. We persuade men; the state
compcls. The present plea is for
law and order. These have been
guaranteed. Officers have been sworn
and paid for this very purpose Of
seeing that the laws are honored. Oh
no. Christians by law, but law by
Christians.
Another weapon often used IS
ander 70 bring the leaders OF
oral and religious movements into
srepute IS lofty ideal with the
lprincipled. No evangelist ever
uned success but has had this dart
thrust at him. Governor Folk has
come to be known everywhere as the
great Missouri reformer. We only
hear his praises, yet no man is more
bitterly prosecuted at home than he
His own party is his bitterest foe.
He is accused Of everything that is
vile His life has been threatened
many times. The author of our text
was one who was martyred because
of his efforts to reform. To oppose
the lawless is to court persecution.
Lastly, there are other stumbling
blocks than the lawbreakers on the
way to civic reform. Strange to say
movement than those who are direct
~ affected by such a movement.
There are those who insist that you
should persuade and not compel.
THE religiously inclined should tend
to his own affairs and let other peo-
pie do the same" But the state, the
total of individuals, is of more inn
portance than any single individual.
If the state exists it must have the
power to use the individual for the
public good You might as well
stand on the banks of the river down
/ here and try to persuade the waters
to run north instead of south as to
try to persuade some of our law
breakers to quit their law1essness
Forebearance ceases to be a virtue
when the public good is sacrificed
to the individual desire. The public
good then demands the rod of iron.
Then there are honest hearts that
L, Il,
They are fully aware of the disorder,
and lawlessness that prevail. They
desire change from the present order
but there are too many knowing
smiles when they pose as reformers.
They are perfectly aware of the
NOTES in their own eyes. In the past
they have sanctioned by their pres
ence and their patronage those things
which they know should not exist
and which at heart they despise.
They prefer others to take the lead
ing part at reformation Wisdom
will excuse them.
Another obstacle is indifference.
You quite often hear: "My life IS
not in danger. My business is thriv-
ing. My family is safe / don't ex-
peet to stay here very long anyhow.
Let Greenville go TO the bad if it
wants to-" A man of any patriotism
will seek the good of his country. A
man of no patriotism is dangerous
He who is iinpatriotic is worthless
character This is land of patriots.
and worse than &orthless-he may
be an anarchist. | feel that indiffer-
ence is a crime.
Tinidity invites defeat, but often it
is found among the ranks of reform
ers. Courage and firmness are Sc
crets of success. When Marius, once
the honored CONSUL of Rome, was
being dragged to execution by a yell
ing, hooting mob, he fixed his eyes
on the man who stepped out to kill
him. saying, aSlave. dost thou dare
to kill Mariusa' The soldier dropped
his sword and fled, and with him the
panic-stricken mob. When Napoleon
came back to France from his exile, he