South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1916-02-14
MLSHAWAKA GENERAL NEWS
NeusTm 1SOuhMo Street OmePho

| shat ne honored even those laws
" hich protected slavery. But when
the south sought TO destroy the I'M
ion by denying the right Of the ma
jority 90 rule he was ready TO risk
all for the preservation OF the ma
ton Four years Of dreadful con-
fiict taught more clearly the mean
ing and strength OF patriotism. and
out OF that night OF war comes the
voice of Lincoln saying, Let every
man remember that to violate law
is 20 trample upon the blood OF his
father and 20 tear the charter Of his
own and his children's liberty
To-day every American should re-
member that no citizen has the right
TO violate the law even though he
pay the penalty. fer by such viola
ton ne is defying the expressed
wishes Of a majority OF his fellow
citizens and encouraging a spirit Of
rebellion against all constituted au-
thority He who as an individual
or as member OF a corporation,
whether for greed or gold or love
Of power disregards the laws OF his
land. is lending his influence to
weaken government. and is encour-
aging a spirit which. if allowed to
develop, would lead 10 anarchy and
ruin. To do this is 10 be unpatriotic.
The criminal who finds that he
can violate one law with impunity
will be encouraged TO violate others.
The law-abiding citizen who sees law
habitually violated without protest
or punishment. will have less and
less reverence for law. Men are I'M
consciously influenced by the politi-
cal atmosphere of the community
in which they live and labor. And
while the enforcement of law may
not have the power 70 transform
criminals into good citizens il does
have its Influence in preventing
good citizens from becoming Grim
inals. IL has an educative as we'll as
a prohibitive value. The officer who.
after taking the solemn oath 70 adj
minister law TO the best of his abil-
ity refuses 10 make an honest effort
10 do his duty, or for private gain
Joins hands with the criminal. has
turned traitor to his trust. Neither
is il for him 10 choose between what
he considers desirable and uadesir-
able laws. 1t is his duty to enforce
all alike and while the officer is re-
sponsible for the faithful perform
anCe OF his duties, the individual
voter is responsible for the kind OF
officer he has chosen. Laws are the
expressed will Of the people Of
fcers are servants like the immortal
Lincoln elected by the people TO do
the will OF the people If public
sentiment is strong enough to pass a
law IT is strong enough to enforce a
law.
Patriotism may envolve a love
for the rocks and rills. the woods
and the tempted hills of our coun-
rgy. Nbut back of all and above all
else II means love for our fellow
citizens. A love which demands op-
'pc-ition to whatever harms the citi-
zen or weakens the bonds which
bind men to a nation.
When the heroes of earth shall
have played their part on the
worlds stage and made their exit
and the binding mists Of that which
is human shall have vanished before
light divine: when the Omniscent
rewarder of men shall inscribe upon
the roll Of honor the names of those
who serve their fellOwmen-then
nigh above the name of the great
warrior who drenched the world
with blood and crossed TO the land
of his am bition upon pontoon
bridge of down-trodden fellowman,
or the unpatriotic politician who
erected his throne upon a pile OF
gold unjustly wrung from the hands
made hard by toll or the hatterer OF
human souls; high above these in
letters of gold shall be inscribed the
names of those who sought TO estab-
lsh justice. insure domestic tran
guilty. promote the general welfare
and secure the blessings of liberty
for his fellow citizens. who by his
patriotism and unselish devotion
lifted not a sword but a pen to blot
cut human slavery forever and re
unite the bonds of brotherhood
the union forever-this name Abra-
ham Lincoln. the patriot"
Il Have Seen God Face to Face"
was the subject Of Rev. DR.. Loren
NJ Edwards. pastor of the Methodist
Memorial church. at the morning
services Sunday.
Or Edwards stressed in the course
of his sermon the folly of pursuit OF
worldly pleasures to the neglect of
things spiritual.
The world can go swinging along
in its wild carousal e sin" said DR..
Edwards. It can intrigue and muir