The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1909-08-21

Proverbs XLAV1I1:6.
This assertion of Solomon is al
most a self-evident truth. There
really should be no need of much
argument to establish it. That the
man who obeys the law and thereby
conducts himself in an upright fash
ion is better than the Individual who
disregards all authority but that
which he vests in himself. should
need no demonstration. It's a fact
that should be apparent to every one.
The rather strange thing about 1t is,
though, that there actually are those.
perverse in their ways and holding
the laws Of man and God In scant re-
spect. who consider themselves to be
of a superior mould to those who are
sticklers. for rectitude. And as the
words OF the text suggest, It is gem
orally the rich who are inclined to
this fashion.
Money and the worldly goods 1t
buys are f1ne things. No man is to
be held I'D to scorn or criticism mere
~ because he Is the possessor of them
In abundance. provided they have
been honestly acquired by him.
Rather is he to be commended for his
acumen and sagacity. and especially,
If he be wise. as many such men are,
in the administration Of his wealth.
But the truth will not down that this
country has an unusually large num-
Der of persons who have accumulated
wealth by hook or crook or who have
had 1t thrust upon them, who con-
slider themselves above and beyond
all laws and regulations. They get
a mistaken idea Of the power of
money. They believe the possession
of 1t in large amounts makes all
things possible for them. makes all
things amenab1e to their wills. They
frequently indulge in actual crimes
with the belief that their means are
all sufficient to permit them to es-
cape the penalties. Often they are not
mistaken in these regards. All men
are supposed to be equal before the
laws Of this and other civilized lands,
but such equality is practically one of
theory because the man with
money can hire lawyers who are quite
as smart as the courts. Through
trickery and device. and even the
most dishonorable of means, they are
able occasionally to defeat the ends
of justice.
Now on the face of It. these con-
d1t1OnS would appear to place the
rich in a much better position than
the poor. But except for the few in
dividuals who become hardened
brutes, a continual perversity which
leads to crime Of all sorts. and of
greater and less intensity. makes life
almost unbearab1e for the man who
INDUCES in 1t. His conscience makes
for misery of mind which is IN
ceasing. There may be no outward
manifestation of this. but behind the
masks that cover his face and ac-
lions, this condition maintains. IT
makes for any and everything with
the exception of peace, commitment
and happiness. 1t gnaws at the vitals
of all things which make life worth
living.
There is but one way to get any
adequate satisfaction out of life. and
it matters not whether a man be rich
or poor. It is to be found by living
in uprightness; in certain obedience
to all such laws as prevail in the
realms of civilization; in as much in
tegrity and probity in social life as is
demanded nowadays in the business
world. The man who lives a life of
rectitude in all things is a winner all
along the line. His future is secure,
even after death