Oxford eagle. (Oxford, Lafayette Co., Miss.) 1876-current, 1912-02-22
Morals in Legislation.
From Jackson Daily News.

While 40 much = being said
relative % the need of measures
looking to the industrial and f.
nancial upbuildine of cur COM
mOnwealth. and while our Leg
Islators are busying the uselves
in efforts 70 frame laws 50 as to
prevent any one class OF our cit
izens from enjoying undue ad-
vantages over classes in the mat
ter of MONEY making, would it
Mt be well for some attent on t.
Ce given 10 the conservation of
the general interest of our people
in both morals and religion? Il
appears that whenever any ques-
ton relative To the need Of legl-
station ID brought before the
people it is almost Invariably
some question which only con
Germs TIE financial prosperity Of
our country, and never n thought
given to the very serious matter
of a growing disregard for law
and order, % TO m fact that
throughout large areas OF our
country there Is prevalent a grad
ualiy increasing d~ecaieuce OF
religious interest among the pep
pie.
Our poh6cians-and it appears
that the majority Of our leaders
are politicians rather than states
men-come before the puoIic with
issues which only serve u aronse
the prejutices Of the people of
our section against those of an-
other section. or Of one Class
against another class, or the
people ot the rural districts
against the towns. and towns
against country: never once
puusing - consider the fact tlat
the question underlying ali gov
eminent are the vital questions,
and that in the issues involved il
these questions all classes OF osr
citizens are alike Interested
Rich and poor. Merchant and IA
mer, town and county. edIcleed
ana uaeducated, are all alike IL
terest-d in the mater OF press.y-
ing respect for Law AMI Ord-s
among the people. AMI all are
alike Interested IN the fostering
OF moral and religious seutin MS
Neither good gOserament, nor
prosperity under any form OF
government, can long be eajJyed
after any very cou-iderab pJr-
tim OF th- citizenship have lost
respect Tor the az AMI wlen they
/ have ceased - cDcsciOIly res
lie tlat tIsy are s&erIOle l.
the God Jt Ils universe for taeir
conduct N tlis pteseAt Ike. 10
build up nsaAIjus for the pro-
notion Of Respect tor the aatnpr-
lty Of tue iag, ald for the cheek
ing Of the increasing tbs Of g-u
eral lahieAty, i today a Mater
ot tar greater Importance 10 our
people than tbs constant devotion
r Of time and talent 10 the consid-
Grafton Of the money problem,
the race problem, the problem OF
law ID lessen taxation, or any
other one Of the many other
problems which are g. present
. engaging the exclusive attention
of our leading politicians. Not
that none OF these matters are
worth attention. for many OF the
ques ions pertaining ID these is
sues are OF practical Importance.
and they come within the range OF
proper and equitable Legislation:
yet many Of them are beyond the
power Of human law To regulate.
and the continual agitation OF
} them does more harm than goot.
Fne constant discussion OF them
simply breeds il feeling aai dis
eoatentment among the people
l without Offering one single sug-
: gesIon as 10 4 practicable
= method of getting rid of the trou-
: bies OF which complaint is made.
Certain OF our legislators and
other leaders among US, have
! been very uneasy for fear that
something might be done which
would cause injury to some pollt
zeal faction, even going to the
extent OF trying to cover up things
which should have been viewed
IN the clear and impartial light
OF a reasonable justice, and for
the sake OF intoxicating a healthy
moral sentiment; yet these same
leaders have apparently lost sigat
OF the fact that to-day there is an
increasing tendency u bear false
witness before 5ur courts of ius-
uce- Men who do not feel that
they are under obligation to tell
the truth before luries when either
taeir.own interests or the interest
OF their PARTISAN friends are in
volved are alarningiy On the in-
crease. There is evidently a
cause for this; and while it can
not be legislated away, yet it car
De aoated by efforts toward a
higher moral tone, and u lead
ing public men are the men 10
set the example for this. Some
OF our southern people, and prom
Inent among them our MISSISSIPPI
plans, have Concerned themselves
to a great extent ABOUT the kind
OF history taat should be taught
10 our public schools, fearing
that a history m ght be used
which would not properly in
press the minds of our young
manila NTH rha inr