The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1912-09-07

| Good understanding gtveth faYor, pu
the Wav of the transgressor is hard
Proverbs XIII Is.
Evidence is not lacking on any sid'
that the way of those who disobey tn'
laws OF God and man is hard one
There has been so much of it for sucI
a long time it would seem as though
| this great fact would have long since
been realized by every one, ana there-
fore that transgression5 OF all sorts
would have begun to diminish But
such does not appear to be the case
in fact II would seem, from reading
of the daily newspapers. that there are
more nnisdeeds of every variety now
adays than ever before. Perhaps
wider publicity is now being given
them than heretofore through the more
modern methods of gathering and dis
seminating news. Then, too, 1t is the
sensational doings in life that attract
the attention, rather than those OF
serious character But it is foregone
conclusion, and plainly apparent that
altogether too many offenses are being
committed against society each day oy
men and women the world over.
To transgress is a human failing. II
10 ro,ch more intense with some per-
sons than with others. But with every
individual, at one time or announcer
there is almost sure to come desire
TO do things that ought not to be done.
And these desires. if they are gratineo'
are generally followed with anything
but good results. 1t appears to De
easier to do wrong than to do rignt
or. at least, some people seem u
think so. Such is really far from De-
mo the case. And the oftener a petty
rofsdeed is committed, the more reaollS
is a greater one undertaken.
Nothing good ever comes Of trans
erassions of any kind. A man may
nrofit for the time being by wrong
doing. NAV satisfy his grosser passions
under the delusion that he is having
"good time;'' may continue Tor
neriod to maintain something or an
excellent reputation and hold the re-
spect 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 ahgnt'
Sooner or later he rushes up against
a rock in his way that smashes MIN
completely. And then-what is there
or a grave that is summed
II is not unusual to hear man say
that he cares not what the world may
+binu of him. He will live his life In
his own way and do exactly as ne
pleases. But such talk as this Is 1901
ish What people say of man is the
by which he is measured
And he can only do those things that
are not in contravention of the rules
and regulations for the conduct OF
society. or else take the punishment
that their violations involve.
There would not be a nation on the
face of the earth today that would
bear any of the earmarks of ciVll1Za-
ton if it were not for the mandates
it enforces concerning the conduct OF
its people. Some theorists contend that
it is impossible to legislate morals into
a people. That is not a conclusion |
which can be founded on the facts OF
history as they bear on the develop
ment of all civilization. What the |
laws of Scion did for the magnificent |
Rome which they helped to create and |
maintain, the laws of other wise men /
are doing for the most enlightened ma
tons of today. What conditions would |
prevail in any country or community |
if it did not erect barriers beyond |
which men and women are forbidden
to go with 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. And there should
be greater hesitation on the part OF
every one to violate any of them. Their
good understanding, with which most
are blessed, will carry them,
f they use it, over the shoals that are
ever threatening to wreck their careers.