New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1917-07-08
BY JOSEPH F. SMITH
President of the Church of Jesus Christ
of Latter DAY Saints


The character of a community or a
nation is the sum OF the individual
qualities Of its component members.
To say so is to voice at once an ordi-
nary platitude and an axiom OF pro-
found import The stability of a ma
terial structure depends upon the in
tegrity of its several parts and the
maintenance Of proper correlation Of
the units in harmony with the laws Of
forces. The same may be said of insti-
tutions, systems and organizations in
general.
Some Of the gravest mistakes Of men.
in administrative affairs, in politics. in
craftsmanship. are the consequence Of
instructed efforts 10 strengthen the
fabric as whole instead Of applying
/ remedial measures 10 the defective
parts, or correcting the discordant re-
lationship. When citizens can be
taught to live right lives, the grandeur
and perpetu;ty Of the nation will be
assured.
The voice Of the pessimistic agitator
is heard m the land to-day. He Is loud
| in denunciation of existing systems and
/ vigorous in demand for new laws and
governmental reforms. Progressive leg
lslatlon is undoubtedly necessary, and
abuse of power, neglect of duty or
other evils in national or local admin
/ lstratlon should be promptly corrected;
I but the crying need of mankind is in
dividusl reformation. The thorough
/ publication and effective regulation Of
/ society as a system through repressive
/ legislation is a stupendous and we'll
nigh a hopeless undertaking.
The natural and rational plan OF i'm
provement must deal largely with the
/ education of the society unit, the in
/ dividual citizen. Regulatory and pro-
4 hibitory laws cannot consistently be
regarded as other than necessities in
/ the present state Of human affairs, but
| let us hope that these enactments shall
/ become as dead letters in the advance
ment of the community through indi-
vidual improvement
Public Conscience Aroused
What has come to be known in pres
ent-day literature as the social evil is
a subject of perennial discussion. and
the means proposed for dealing with IL
are topics of contention and debate.
That the public conscience is aroused
/ TO the seriousness of the dire condition
due 10 sexual immortality IS q promis-
/ ing indication Of prospective better
ment. No more loathsome cancer dis
figures the body and soul OF society
/ today than the frightful affection OF
sexual sin. 1t vitistes the very foun-
tains Of life and bequeaths its foul
effects TO the yet unborn as legacy
Of death. u turks in hamlet and city.
in the mansion and in the hoyel as a
rayening beast in wait for prey, and II
skulks through the land in bssphe-
nous defiance of the laws OF God and
Of man.
The lawful association Of the sexes
is ordained OF God, not only "a the sole
means Of race perpetuatlon, but for
! the development Of the higher faculties
and nobler traits OF human nature
which the love-inspired companionship
Of man and woman alone can insure
The word of Scripture is explicit as 10
the Divine intent and command with
respect TO the sexes. IL Is not coed Tor
man to be alone, and therefore hath .
heen ordained that "a man leave his
father and his mother and shall cleaye
INTO his wife; and they shall be one
sesh" Genesis, 2;is, 2D. OF the
Srst narents of the race We read: And
/ ca blessed them; and Cod said unto
,h.rr r. fruitful. and multiply, and re
nIenish the earth" Genesis, 1929.
THE precept that marriage IS honor
nj. :. as true to-day as when uttered
bv the apostle Of old see Hebrews
! TS:p; and who shall deny that the
,,;.d state IS essential 20 the at
ta1pment Of even relative perfection IN
,nl6lling tho measure and purpose OF
msn;s mortal existence? Neither is
the man without the woman. neither 1s
he woman without the man. in the
I'D" II Corinthians, ll:ll).
Regulation by Law Essential
~, slone ia IL fundamentally proper
-. s.rirt accord with both the spirit
sn nd ne letter Of the Divine Word, but
ssh ~ essential 10 the stability OF
az ssooeisi order that the marriage re-