The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1911-05-20

the way of the transgressor is hard. Pro-
verbs XIII 10.
Evidence is not lacking on any side
that the way of those who disobey the
laws of God and man is a hard one
There has been so much of it for such
a long time, it would seem as though
this great fact would have been real
| lied by every one, and, therefore, that
transgressions of all sorts would have
begun to diminish appreciabIy ere this
But such does not appear to be the
| case. In fact. it would seem from q
reading of the daily newspa ners that
there are more misdeeds of every va
riety nowadays than ever before. Per
maps wider publicity is now being
given them than heretofore through
the modern methods of gathering and
disseminating news. Then, too, it is
the sensational things of life that at
tract the attention rather than the
serious ones. Sociologists insist, how
lever, that the world is growing better
all the time, and their conclusions in
this respect are undoubtedly correct
| That far too many offenses against So
c1ety are being committed every day
800 "OAAACllg lOOg IL also
apparent.
To transgress is a human failing. It
Is much more intense with some per-
sons than it is with others But in
every human being, at one time or an
other, there is almost sure to come
desire to do things which ought not
to be done. And these desires are
generally followed with anything but
good results. 1t appears to be easier
to do wrong than it is to do right, or at
least some people seem to think so.
Such is really far from being the case.
And the oftener a petty misdeed is
committed, the more readily is
greater one undertaken.
Nothing good ever comes of trans
gressions of any kind man may
profit for the time being by wrong
doing, may satisfy his grosser passions
under the delusion that he is having
a good time" may continue for a
period to maintain something of an ex-
cellent reputation and hold the respect
of his friends and acquaintance which
he does not deserve. But the road he
is travelling has no soft spots. no easy
places on which to alight. Sooner or
1dLGE he IuSIGS up against q IOCk III
the way that smashes him completely.
And then-what is there left to him?
Dishonor. a felon's garb, or a grave
that is Stunned.
1t is not unusual to hear man say
that he cares not what the world may
think of him. He will live his life in
his own way and do exactly as he
pleases. But such talk as this is fool
ish. There would not be a nation on
the face of the earth today that would
bear any of the earmarks of being
civilized if it were not for the rules
and regulations it enforces for the con-
duct of its people. Some theorists con-
tend that it is impossible to legislate
morals into a people. That is not
con clusion which can be founded on
the facts of history as they bear on the
development of all civilizations. What
the laws of Scion did for the magnifi-
cent Rome which they helped to create
and maintain, the laws of other wise
men are doing for the most enlighten-
ed nations of today. What conditions
would prevail in any country or COM
munity if it did not erect barriers be-
You'd which men and women are for
hidden to go in their varied desires and
pursuits? To ask the question is to
answer it. All of the necessary laws,
which are the safeguards of society
are based on the widest and best ex-
periences of men and the teachings of
God as they are revealed in that book
of books, the Bible. There should be
greater hesitation on the part of peo-
pie to violate any one of them. Their
good understanding, with which most
individuals are blessed, will carry
them, if they use it, over the shoals
that are ever threatening to wreck
their careers