The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1909-07-07


but for wrong-doing upon the part of
the one or the other would be friendly
co-workers. At times the world stands
appalled, at the flerceness of these con-
fiicts, and sometimes the very founda-
lions Of government are made to tremble
in their places.
AS consequence OF mans failure
in past ages, to appreciate fully the
rights of his fellowman, we are con-
fronted today with the race problem,
menace to government an obstacle to
advancement, hindrance to learning
and the standing adversary to sectional
reconciliation From the porticoes of high
heaven angels of peace and love watch
with fear and trembling the process of
the solution Of this most perplexing prob
lem.
Spirit of LawIessness.
AS result of the failure to maintain
high ethical standards, the spirit of law
lessness Is prevalent. Disregard for law,
man-made and God-given, is widespread
Everywhere we have excess Of liberty,
unbridled license, barbaric lawlessness;
and lax enforcement is the bane of both
state and nation.
The frequency, the recklessness and the
impunity with which laws are violated
should bring fear and shame to every
patriotic citizen. In no other civilized
country is law-breakng regarded with
so little concern. If the offender be
wealthy or influential, acquittal OF light
punishment is practically certain. If he
be poor and without family influence,
conviction is the usual result. Impartial
and adequate justice is seldom admin
istered. What a sad commentary on our
boosted civilization
One of the most alarming features In
IT. ~lxt& - L.
tests itself Is that Of mob violence. At
first, appeals to mob rule were infre-
quent; now they are frequent. Then, only
negroes and uninf1uential whites were the
victims: now. people Of character and
standing. without regard to race or class,
are sometimes executed. The lawless
spirit, whether 1t manfests Itself In the
might riders" the "whitecapers," the
race riot, the "Black Hand" the boy
cott,' the financial conspiracy or other
form is no respector of persons or in
situations.
When these conditions are contemplated
one Is constrained to wonder II the court
is to be superseded by the mob; II self
government Is to prove a failure; II the
result is TO be complete anarchy-a drift
ing back into the darkness of barbarism.
Moral Training Necessary.
What is the remedy? How can we
attain to new and better conditions? Only
through the processes of education In
no other way can proper ethical stand
ards be established and maintained by
no other means can a people be ad-
vanced In civilization, and prepared for
the highest forms Of self-government
Through the development of mind and
heart the masses must be brought to a
realization of the fact that violations of
the law, civic or moral, degrades all who
participate or condone; that crime is not
a preventive but a producer of crime:
that lawlessness begets lawlessness; that
hatred and revenge breed hatred and re-
venge.
Public officials must be trained to real
lie that public office Is a sacred trust
and that yielding to the lawless element
is inexcusable. The children of the land
must be taught to obey the golden rule;
must be made to appreciate the meaning
of the command, Thou shalt not" Along
with mental and physical training must
go moral culture. Thou shalt not lie"
Thou shalt not steal, Thou shalt not
KILL" and all the other "thou-s halt-rlots''
must be included SO systematically so
persistently. so effectively that proper
regard for the rights of others shall be-
come a fixed principle in the life of ev-
cry man, woman and child
The lawless rich and the laWless poor
must be placed upon the same plane in
the administration of Justice. To that end,
preparation for citizenship should begin
in infancy and continue through life
Place for Training.
This training should begin in the home.
for nowhere else can the lessons of love,
truth, obedience, honesty and fidelity be
SO effectively inculcated. There should be
implanted that nobility of character that
love of right for the rights sake that
stalwart patriotism. and that unfaltering
courage, SO necessary in governments
where the people rule. But, sad to say,
the home is failing in this important duty.
The obligations of fatherhood and mother
hood are neglected in the race for wealth
and pleasure. The undisciplined child
grows into the lawless citizen; and the
lawless citizen is the liar, the swindler,
the thief, the CRATER, the robber, the
lyncher the murderer.
Can this training be given by the
church? Is the church giving It? While
have no abiding faith In the efficiency
of the work of the church, there seems
to be little hope for speedy and ade-
quate relief from that source.
What about the press? While the press
is a great educator and is powerful in
advocacy of the supreme Importance of
civic righteousness, it does not reach
adequately the citizen at the most i'm
questionable age.
Hope in Public School.
1t Is clear that, for a development of
ethical standards which will lead to a
proper appreciation of the relations and
obligations of civic life, we must look
to something other than the agencies
mentioned. To what source shall we
look?
1t Is to the school, especially the
public school, we must look. Upon the
teacher in the sch COL must we rely; for
it is the teachers privilege to erect
high ideals and build up to their full
stature, to apply correct thinking and
noble acting to the solution of life's
problems. to direct and preserve the