Catoctin clarion. [volume] (Mechanicstown, Md.) 1871-1940, 1907-05-02
The crImInaI has the right~to death

The CfImIhaI has the fight~tO death
not of the States making. The prin-
ciple of capital punishment is as VIC
ious at bottom as is private murder
by the Individual, and Is unwhole-
some in that it disregards the very
law of inalienable right to life that
It essays to protect. Thou shalt not
kill" says the State, "for If you do.
and we can prove the case against
you, we will STAY you" The incon-
sistency of the situation should ap-
peal to everyone, but queerly enough
the very disciples of that Christ who
said, Father, forgive" are among
the loudest clamorers for the life of
the murderer.
But the greatest example OF the
violation of this commandment Is to
be found in the actions of the Chris
tan nations of to-day. Theoretically
Christian, we are, as segregated peo-
pies, largely pagan. Praising God
as individuals and despising, most OF
us, in our private lives un-Christian
conduct and un-Christlike acts, we
stand ready as members of great
social body to sustain and to serve
measures that are wholly corrupt and
corrupting. Processing love for
peacefulness and for the Prince of
Peace, we pay without grumble our
military tithes. Indeed, we may often
see the spectacle of two mighty peo-
pies, each paying homage to the same
God, clutching each at the others
throat, the meanwhile each is asking
God to give the enemy defeat. All
too often Te may see the armies and
the navies of a wealthy Christian
nation full of power, menacing a
weaker sister to collect a money debt.
The nations of this day descend to
the decision by fisticuffs which all
worthy men deny to be manly, or to
be of value to decide an issue.
The situation would be ludicrous
were 1t not SO lamentable.
Christian men and Christian ma
lions have no communion with dis
loyalty to the Father. The individ-
ual, the church, the peoples have no
call to kill. God gave us brains with
which to settle our difficulties In
sober thoughtfulness He gave us
our hands to help ourselves, not to
harm each other. The more money
you may possess, the more must you
care for the. men below and about
you. Financiering that makes Its
chief profits through the exploitation
of the man with small means, or
through the financial wrecking OF the
moneyed man, has no place in
Christian economy, for its fruit Is all
too often death. Many are the vic
Tins of INSCRIPTIONS Napoleons OF
finance. The easier you make the
task Of the toiler in your shop, or
mine, or mill, or field, the more do
you serve your God. The oftener we
settle disputes between individuals
or among nations, by the courts OF
arbitration, the moro do we glorify
our Lord and manifest our manhood.
Immense ornaments merely prove
national weakness Of will and lack
of mental poise. Wars often bring
victory to those who are in the right,
and they should. But no war has
ever proven the validity OF the case
of any victor no matter how well
founded the argument OF that WIN
ming party may have been.
The crushing of little children at
mems tasks is short-sighted policy
to score it very little. The system
which wrecks and destroys the youth
of a land, prepares a heritage OF
wrecked humanity for the worriment
of future generations. Gain at any
price Is a poor business proposition,
and Is morally unjustifiable.
My friends, the need of the hour
in this matter is for an honest recog-
milton, by individuals and nations, or
the force which the words OF Jesus
Christ add to the command thou
shalt not kill" We need 4 quick
ened conscience that shall always
counsel for the right. We need
holy manhood that shall insist that
no form of murder, be 1t brutal or
refined, shall soil the private or the
public record. The call is for Christ
men who dare to do good and to be
upright, no matter how much the
dividends may suffer, no matter how
much humanity may remain unap.
preciative of kindness, charity ana
love. The call is for men OF high ana
men of low estate who shall ever rec
ognize that war Is hell, and that Coo
is honored, not by the smoke and DIN
of battle, but by the exercise OF hu-
man self-control.
Let us, then, be mon, and De sure
to keep our hands from blood guilt
ness, Let not the death of our broth.
ers be upon us. Let us live ana let
live. Let us serve and save. Let us
not destroy.