Tensas gazette. [volume] (St. Joseph, La.) 1886-current, 1914-07-31
the CURE IDEA

| punitive remedies for the cure Of
crime. On the other hand. the marvel
Gus results following the practical ap-
plication of theories evolved from
modern scientific Investigation must
convince the most skeptical that only
along rational lines of prevention can
the steadily rising tide of disease and
crime be successfully combated.
There are no accidents in this world.
Every happening Is the inevitable re-
suit of a specific cause acting accord
ing to definite and immutable law.
what we term accidents" being
happening unexpected only because Of
our ignorance of the fundamental con-
ditions and law. As heat and cold are
one and the same, varying only in de-
gree, so accident, disease and crime
are only varying results from a COM
mon cause-instability, lack of haf.
mony In existing conditions.
Accident and disease are the result
Of transgressions of natural law;
crime is the result of breaking man.
made law. All three are very largely
matters Of geography. for the reason
that what will result in one or the
other in one country or state will not
produce a like result In another
place.
Either unknowingly or In spite Of
ourselves. and whether we like 1t or
not, nature leads us by purely person
al motive to fulfil her ends. In other
words. humanity must react according
to each individual nature and its en-
vironment Because Of this fact punt
tive laws have never been deterrent.
never can be deterrent. In our ig-
norance we establish laws running
counter to natural law and thereby
make criminals" Because of this
fact society has been forced again and
again either to remove the cause or to
amend or repeal the law and legalize
the crime.
But We can neither amend nor re-
peal natural law nor by resolution null
lily the effect Of q given action: and.
a. each act has q positive and newt
able result, irrevocable and extending
to the end, either we must adapt our
selves to the new conditions or suffer
in consequence. II we are elastic and
adaptable we react" and continue to
enjoy good hexlth, but II rigid and
UNACCEPTABLE we suffer disease and pre-
mature extinction
Wa Al MT hro.H uature1 1.-s. <hnv
break u II we are stupid enough to
try to run counter to them. Therefore
the logic of the situation should drive
Ms diligently to familiarize ourselves
with the fundamental laws of the uni
verse Of which we are an integral part.
that we may live in harmony there
with and .fulnl our destiny. whatever
It may be.
In short. good health does not come
out of bottles nor law abiding citi-
Gems out Of cells. Both are matters Of
physical balance. the product Of intel.
ligent breeding and Of training begin
ming not later than the cradle period.
Even morality. concerning which We
are hearing 30 much under the cap
lions social evil' or white slavery"
is not q mStter of wage. but Of charac.
ter. and therefore absolutely the result
of training.
In the final analysis civilization ID
nothing more than the development Of
centers enabling us to curb
and subdue the remains of our Jungle
very near to the sur
face even in the best Of US. But 90
ciety deliberately breeds disease and
crime. then coddles the one and pun
ishes the other. and all the time per.
mits both to breed more incompetents.
Science has demonstrated that good
health and freedom from crime may
be purchased by intelligent cooper.
ton and the expenditure Of money for
the benefit of men en- masse. And the
day will undoubtedly come when iii
health will be considered q greater
disgrace than to BE- imprisoned. be-
cause the latter IL only the result of
breaking man-made laws. while III
health 10 the result Of transgressing
natures law. for which there can be
no excuse among intelligent people
When that day does dawn there win
be no more prisons. for they will have
passed with the thumbscrew, the rack
and the stake. In place Of jails, 70
formatories and penitentiaries. what
We need are more organized nurseries
and training schools for children. more
hospitals and training institutions for
the adult.
Meantime We have to meet the de-
mands Of today: First, relief to the |
sufferers from our past blindness and |
folly-and most Of them can be 70
lieved. Second. to teach the injustice
Of passing limitations along to future
generations.
swered. How beautiful that arehs. |