Arizona republican., 1914-11-03
Human Life?

diseases, and many other things that no man alone can com pei another to do From what source does the state derive it's bower? Here in America we say, from the people, But we must go back farther than this In the thir- teenth chapter of st. Paul's epistle to the Romans, he says: The pow CTS that be are ordained of God Whosocver therefore resisteth the power, resisteth the ordinance of God: and they that resist shall re- Ceive to themselves damnation." This kings" as it is technically unde~ stood. If rulers derive their power from the people, the latter receive theirs from the Creator. Whether inc executive is a king, president or governor he has his right, in a cer- tain sense from the divine SovC- reign. Speaking of an earthly ruler. St. Paul goes on to say: For he beareth not the sword in vain: for he is the minister of God. q revenGer to execute wrath upon him that do- eth eVil''
 No sane person denies that an iu- dividual has the right to take life in self defense. To kill a highway robber who threatens your life, or a burglar breaking into your house &t midnight, is not regarded as mur- der This is killing in self defense, and is justifiable by law in all civi- Iized nations The state should have the same right to protect it's life, that of it's citizens as a whole as the individual has. Receiving it's authority first from Jehovah, any proper law-making power has the right, if it sees fit, to employ the death penalty as a punishment for wilful- murder
 If the state has not the right to inflict capital punishment, where i does it get the right to imprison tue murderer for life, or indeed for any length of time? Freedom is re- l garded as an inalienable right tEe same as life. In his famous speech, | Patrick Henry puts liberty above | life in slavery. A common argu
 
 I that we cannot restore life to q man who has been executed, if it is afterward proved that he was in nocent The same can be said of 1 imprisonment The years spent in | prison can never be restored to q man who is later found to be inno- cent No persons should suffer the death penalty unless his guilt is proved beyond the question of d doubt.
 Punishment is for the sake of re. | forming criminal" say those who are opposed to the penalty of death for crime So it should he as fa.' as possible These same persons are i in favor of life imprisonment. But this cannot reform men and turn them over to society, which would ne a contradiction of terms. Mur- dercrs are punished chiefly for the protection of society. The safety of hundred persons is worth more 1 than the freedom of one who has | forfeited his right to live. by taking the life of a fellowman.
 Is Capital Punishment Contrary tc ! the Spirit of the Age?
 Since the crime of Cain six thou sand years ago. murder has lest none of it's sinfulness. It is still Gr 1, inhuman act Murderers today arc no better in the sight of God and right thinking men than Cain was ! Society must be protected from law lcssness today, the same as in tho beginning. Every person will h. ready to abolish the penalty of Geath for crime just as soon as men cease to commit murder. Let ,he assassins lead in the reform as q Frenchman once said, and all good rcople will follow
 There is much maudlin sentiment today that calls itself love for hu- manity Many persons have mor5 sympathy for the criminal, however diabolicaI his deed, than for the un- fortunate victim and lis bereaVc1 family Mere talk about love for oui fellowmen amounts to nothing if not proved by good works, as st. Jamcs tells US of faith.
 Few men today have more love for humanity than the great law giver. Moses who wrote the deat} penalty for the crime of murder Where is there humanitarian Nno would pray, as the prophet did. thar he might be plotted out of heaven. book rather than to sec his breth- ren perish? So, too, the Apostle Paul. who writes of the states power to execute Gods will against law
 breakers. wishes himself accurset from Christ for the sake of hi! "kinsmen according to the flesh"
 There has been too much one
 sided preaching in regard to the low of God during the present genera
 tion Molycoddle preachers hav' made spineless humantarians Goo is love-" writes St. John; but the author of Hebrews says, Our Go, is q consuming fire These two de
 scrptions of the great Jehovah ar' in perfect harmony Those wh,
 favor capital punishment do not de
 sire vengeance That belongs t. God. But we do wish to put away murder from the land; and to d. this. the death penalty is stii Eeedcd.
 The five-reel photoplay Ten Night: in a Bar Room will he shown all da,
 Monday and Tuesday at the Plaz;
 Theater. Admission -15c.-Adver
 tiSement.