Albuquerque morning journal. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1903-1926, 1907-11-09
Civil or Moral, Which?

The state may be defined as a
body Of people united under one
government" Government is ordained
Of God. II is ordained for a definite
purpose. In ne words Of ~ex-Judge
CHARLES II. Pratt: Government exists
20 protect the person and property bf
IL citizens. II can not, az "A rule. IN
wade the rights Of an individun1or per
son except To enforce the rights Of an
other individual on person. ANY law
which goes beyond that principle.
which undertakes 10 abolish rights
Tho exercise OF which does not Involve
an infringement OF the rights Of 9th
ers' or TO limit the exercise Of rights
beyond what Is necessary TO provide
Tor the public welfare and the gem
eral security. can not be included in
the police power OF government. IL IS
Ia governmental u%surpation and vio-
Iates the principles OF abstract justice.
as they have been developed under
our republican institution"
Government as II exists today * a
eivil institution; and is not ordained
To enforce morality. Morality may be
defined as follows. "'The relation OF
conformity or uon-conformlty TO the
true moral standard or rule. The con-
formity OF an act TO the divine law"
Now the divine law Is summary
contained In the Ten Commandments.
and takes cognizance of the thoughts
and intents of The heart. Jesus Christ
said: Y have heard that Il was
said hy them Of old time. thou shalt
not Kill; and whosOever shah KIN shall
be In danger OF the judgment. but
say ant YOU. that whosocvcr IS angry
with his brother without a cause shall.
be in danger OF the Judgment; and
whatsoever shall say to his brother. .
Raca Cor. vain fellow. shall be An
danger of the counCiL and whatsoever
shall say, Thou fool. shall he la dam
ger of hell fire" Again: 'Whosoever
hate his brother Is a murderer Now
a a may hate his neighbor or
brother all his lie. ne may covet cy-
erything he sees. he may think inn
purely or livery oma hc secs. bur
long as he confines u 70 his
thoughts no civil government seeks 10
punish him. All these things are
immoral and are transgrpssions 81
the moral law: but until the matter
the form OF an outward act the
civil ruler cannot punish him. And
when hc Is punished for the out
ward act he Is not punished for his
immortality. but his %inciviilty.
Gods government is the only moral
government he alone = able ta an
deraand the thoughts and infents Of
the heart. and reward ar punish ac-
cordinglN. So u is evident that with
the enforcemcnt of morality civil gov
eminent can ave nothing 20 DO.
Is conformity 90 the law OF
God and must spring from the heart.
liut am men have t-ransgrcssed the
law and nus made themselves
immoral The claims of the moral
cannot be satisfied hy IN immoral
man. Therefore no man can be i'm
moral hN law. So thc enforcement oil
morality by the civil law "a "a vain
dream.
Now Sahbath-kccping. baptism. par
uf the Lords supper. are an
Duties we 90 God because be- has
commanded thcm. But neither ono \
thS other can De richtfuilv en-
hy civil law
Take baptism. for Instance. The
great majority OF Christians believe in
and practice baptism tn 20 certain
A minority believe IN and
Practice another mode Of baptism.
Vow bon order Tor the eiFll law Go en-
force baptism 10 would be necessary %
lrHur aud prescribe fhf mode. But
the ciKl ruler this r'shtf How
mauR Protestant parents would he
Co have their children baptized
lN "a minister 90 the Presbyterian or F,
Methodist ~ Baptist rhurche 2
Tho Lords supper o. observed hN
-hrisfian people universally. Hut une
branch uf christendnm observes % in
way amd another in another way
b civu magistrate D. omuuN-
.red 10 prescribe the mode which +.
hall o. followed ht eur children :
rhe soul cries out in indignation 40
De very thnuEht
- with sabbaih-keepins q great 4