El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1915-04-17

Prov. 1884: @Righteousness exaIteth
a natiOnj but sin is "A reprOach 10 any
people,
TOOD men through all time felt it
- their duty to devote what time
- and strength not required for the
private duties and responsibilities to
the welfare OF the community and the
nation in which they lived Among
the very first world patriots was Noah.
He saw and observed that society had
drifted into such a corrupt state that
life would soon become impossible. So
ne began to appeal to his fellow cOuu-
trymen to join him in "a compact TO put
down ipiquity, injustice and crime For
100 years he pleaded with his coun-
trymen for redress OF wrongs and the
suppression OF vice. but without sue
cess. In fact he never won a single
man to his cause No retOrmer ever
seemingly so completely failed in his
laudible service TO humanity and yet
some people actually believe the world
is growing worse.
In profane history we have a long
roll Of patriotic immortals, which con-
stitute the very flower and fragrance
of our race. 40. they are the very
pillars Of our present civilization We
have many people today who now glory
in their memory that would oppose
them II they were to undertake 10 do
again what they have done before for
the bettermelt of TIE world. 1t il
true of some Americans that they com
bat those champions of reform, and
their kind build monuments TO their
memories after they are out OF the
way
Good Government rs Patriotism.
But the fact that good men feel they
must serve their country, that they
must try TO improve the society in
which they must live and rear their
families is sufficient r-ound and rea-
son Tor their taking - active interest
in good government and every moral
reform All good Christians are neces-
sarily interested in good government.
The idea that the world is irretrievably
bad and ruined belongs to the dead
past No more do good men look thus
upon the world upon society. To them
the world is not all good, that il is
somewhat out OF order at least in spots.
but il can be improved upon il
can be made better. They look
upon government as necessary 20
founded upon moral principles which
must be kept intact to insure prOtec-
ton TO all And when those priu-
ciples are being disturbed they feel il
their duty to champion them and
fight for them and if necessary to
die for them Hence a man can
not be good man without being patri-
otic
A good Christian is patriot per Sc.
His lord and master was the greatest
patriot. His most pathetic uttera1ce
followed a spell Of weeping over the
doom of his own beloved city.
righteous eXalteth a nation" and
not throne or a ruleE- sin is a re-
preach to any people" A literal rea-
sOnable Interpretation of the text shows
conclusively two distinct facts. First,
that governmental authority and re-
sponsibility belongs to the people and
not their rulers Second, that there
are really only two kinds OF govern
ment. they are good government and
bad government. If yours is q good
government the credit for it is due
the people If il is q bad government
the blame and reproach must rest up
on the people
The People Rule.
The people must shoulder these re-
sponsibilittes- II they do their duty,
support good government put away
corruption and oppression, they bring l
down upon their heads blessing and
praise and honor; but If they submit z
to iniquity and injustice. oppression. I
u they wink al crime and wickeduess, +
they must bear the consequent re-
proach and misery that must follow. !
This places beyond dispute govern /
mental authority and responsibility 4
with the people where il rightly be /
longs
What is the standard Of righteous I
ness then, by which q nation. a DeO-
PIE are to be Judged 1t is the word
OF God. It is upon the rock Of re-
Vcaled religion that the civilized ma
lions have built up their systems OF /
government. The statutes Of our own
country are nothing more than mans 4
Effort to interpret the laws Of God
III enaclments suited to the neCessi- /