The sun., 1908-01-19

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the parpntal rclnt.o1. the maintenance and
care OF Ohildreu and tire institution of tho
family. Mr. carter cites with approval a
book entitled 41he Origin and Growth Of
the Moral sentiment = by Mr John ~uther-
lend. who shows in detail how the increasing
caro- Of offspring leads TO self-sacriGce for
others, develops by dUgrees the kindly and
generous feelings, how Il extends from tho
immediate family to a whole kindred.
thence successfully to a community and a
nation and ultimately to the whole human
race, manifeating itself In the cultivation Of
the higher individual uuRlities and In the
Improvement of society with all its in
telIectual appliances and charities. Mr..
Garter held this account OF human progress
to be in the main true, although perhaps
sufficient Importance is not assigned by IL
to the purely intellectual element In mans
nature. at is,' Mr.. Garter says, "the mind
in man which psrceives that the greater
happiness which no finds in contributing to
the happiness Of others IL caused by that
contribution and which expects a still
further increase from an extension Of the
contribution. 1t is the mind OF reason
which forms an abstract notion OF the
quality resident in many different things
for creating happiness and which IL calls
goodness and which II presents to the will
a. the means OF obtaining It's desire"
Mr.. Carter does not deny that the law
may have defects peculiarly it's own. These
will be found in the administrative agencies
by which the unwritten customary rule is
ascertained and enforced or they may
be found in errors OF legislation. Tho
judicial tribunals may err in declaring
what the true custom Of society In or the
Legislature may make an unyise attempt
to create law not in harmony with custom.
The remedy for such evils lies in inn
proving the character Of the courts by
q better selection OF Judges and better
training Of lawyers and in a repeal OF
unwise enactments and a choice Of wiser
and better legislators. When, however.
judicial tribunals correctly declare and
enforce customs all remaining social evils
are evils in the customs and any improve
ment must be sought for In a reformation
OF custom itself. Custom being conduct,
Il can be reformed or improved only by a
reformation or improvement Of conduct.
Conduct, however, being caused by thought.
can be changed and improved only by
change or improvement in thought.
Hence Mr.. Carter arrives at the conclusion
that all substantial social reform must
begin with individuals and by a chnnge or
improvement in their thou ghts. The Legis-
lature cannot originate, however il may
aid. such improvements. and the sole
function of the judicial power is to pre-
serve the peace Of society and leave it's
members to work out their own happiness
and that Of their fellows by a free exercise
OF their own powers. Men cannot be made
better by a legal command.
OF course. the conclusion is not new.
but not the less did il need to be repeated.
How often have we been told from the pulpit
and by moralists that reform must be-
gin in individual life; but how often is the
lesson forgotten in the multitude Of leg
islative enactments. passed on the assump-
ton that they will in some manner execute
themselves and change conduct without
changing thought Where a reluctant COM
pliance is compelled by a rigorous enforce
ment OF unacceptable enactHents we are
apt TO take the energy OF prosecution Al
an evidence Of the triumph Of law and of
real progress, whereas 1t Is quite as likely
TO breed more than counterbalancing
mischief and drive US back again to the
acknowledgment that no real advance is
possible, except through the slow. gradu-
al. unconscious but willing changes OF
thought and consequent changes OF con- |
duct and custom.