The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson, S.C.) 1914-1917, 1914-12-22

VI IODDcES. rceO belgium starving
millions. but stop the heather from
lighting. We are to meet organized
evil with organized Godlness. The
church must bear her part Of the
shameful condition that exists, and
moro than any other denomination,
the Baptists. because we boast of
numbers large. We have sung our
hymns. prayed our prayers looked
good and the evil has gone on. The
time has come to fight as we'll as pray,
to be felt at dynamic for right as
well as be seen In pricstly robes Of
apparent Righteousness. There Is @
cure for our ills, let US apply the
remedy.
2. The Remedy. The time is ripe
for the application of right princi-
pies. The work was begun last sum-
mer, when men voted as they prayed.
The result Is apparent. the demago-
que was dethroned. Crime. prejudice
and ignorance received a 'backset."
Goliath met the thrust Of smooth
stone, flung by the united hands of
men whose consciences were stirred
With righteous indignation. But we
cannot stop now, for to rest is to lose
all. for while men sleep the devil
sows tares." In the mind Of your COM
mittec certain things are necessary:
(a) Sane laws, Safe and sane leg
islation can only be had by electing
sane men to make laws. A prominent
man said 10 me: "The time was when
we sent brains and character to make
laws but now we send the biggest
fools we can find" The statement saw
ors OF too much truth. Electing bad
men, we have payed the price OF our
folly In penitence we voted and now
We bear with joyful songs tho remains
OF the defeated to the political ceme-
terry. Earth. to earth ashes to ashes
and dust to dust" Our laws have been
so poor, n man could lie cheat, per-
jure, steal money or suffrage. rob,
mob and murder and go free, with per-
hsps email fine, or short :mprison-
ment. For example one can violate
the dispensary laws and with a small
fee, the price Of q cheap license, con-
tinue his dangerous traffic. We need
laws that will make tho penalty to
some extent commensurate with the
crime. We will have suffrage out
ragged, manhood debauched, and state
ruled by the vilest, unless Christian
men vote to bring good men with
brains and character to represent us
and we shall have legislation that will
lift our State from the disgrace which
she has fallen into.
(b.) Law Enfrocement. Here, to
think means to put our faces in the
dust and weep. We have been held up
to r!dtcule by our sister States and
Justly 80. Not only have we failed to
enforce law, but we have freed those
ad1uged guilty. regardless of the ma
ture OF their crimes or the public
safety. Upon just grounds, we may
imagine the few men. remaining in
our State prison, .afo of all men a.
,"sriendleBs" and atenniless" crowd /
We have made o mistake In too many,I
instances, OF elsGting men who coulds
not enforce law. because they were
the chief law-breakers 2. and home
wreckers. am athfnking Of tho rkock-s
cry, where a magistrate passed zsn-1
tenco on man forN heglectingf hisi
home, when this Judge had allowed
his unfortunate child to die from me-
glect and want, the mother led iastrayI
under the pleadings of love! Is there
anything meaner in6hell? /; an. think,
Ing of men leading In mob, Pretend
ed defenders or nome anu lovers or
morality. officers OF the law they
were, yet leaders Of crime! am
thinking OF men, perjnring themselves,
elected to enforce law, yet interpre-'
Ing law SO as to free some friend.
whom they knew to be guilty! A noted
writer tells us: "Punishme ent in our:
land is neither swift nor sure. We
violate law because 1t is law" It is
said that in Germany convictions for
crime equal 95 per cent, while in the
United States but 1,3. Law enforce
ment Ia one Of the crying needs of
South Carolina. Give us men to lead
who will regard their .oaths; men OH
character. and then we. shall, have off,
GERS who will not be In league with
the crime loving. Sane and safe iawsi
enforced. by good meh its the life OF.
civic honor. 55;fa:y, III ~ -
I, (c) A Compulsory School'> Law
Much of our embarrassment has been
caused by bad mem appealing to those
whose prejudices were easily aroused, n
because 0f the lack OF knowledge. To-
enlighten the coming generations this
law Is necessary. Among It's advO-!
Gates may be found our 1tbest and
wtsest citizene- The etmeni Hho opposesl
q law OF this kind give us the best
appeal for its necessity. "A brother said
to me: "The right to take Implies the
right to compel" The State taxes its
people to educate,lits children, then
let the State do It's work. Public SAT- 4
ETY. calls for intelligent manhood. How
often. In this state the minister is call
cd upon to marry couples who are to
build homes, rear children and neither
party able to writei Almost one-fourth
OF our voters, I; am told, cannot write.
a magistrate In one OF our leading
counties arrested twelve young men,
six white and six negroes. every me-
gro signed his name atl each white
boy made his mark and such mark! |
am profoundly sorry for. the mar