The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1918-01-24

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ledge of His word shall depart from US
and we play false to our fathers faith,
an immense calamity will befall our
commanding American society. With
out it republican institutions will loose
their efficiency. Generous liberties
without it will loose their conservation.
Eloquence without it will loose its dig
nifty. Universities without it, will loose
their glory from library and chapel. It's
fall would be the most disastrous moral
wreck the world has ever known. It's
victory is to be the sublimest annals of
time"
What l have quoted seems almost
ike a prophecy. Christ's authority
should be recognized in laws and to be
the extent of entire obedience to it.
The Christ spirit will recognize the
righteousness of law and lead to the
observance of it. This too, would cor
rect the prevalent Indifference concern
ing the enforcement of the laws of the
land.
We admit that it is too bad the way
our laws are and have been violated,
but few are willing to assume their re-
sponsibility for enforcing them, Most
of the citizens of our cities and towns
are ready to give up the battle before
it is fairly opened. Yes. they admit,
something should be done. vet they be-
come panic stricken at the boldness of
the enemy and are ready 70 surrender.
Rather than stand against the evils,
they become ''particeps criminis,"
through fear of business interests suf-
fering. As a result each season adds to
the force of lawlessness. Even the
government violates its own laws con-
corning the Sabbath on the plea of
necessity. but by far the greater
amount of interstate commerce carried
on; on the Sabbath is not necessity.
This wholesale Sabbath Dissertation is
bearing better fruit, and the nation is
compelled to reap its own sowing.
Can we wonder at Sabbath desecra-
ton and indifference so rapidly increas-
ing? II the spirit of Iawlessness isn't
rite, how will you account for the 5000
murders committed last year and only
about 1000 of which were tried and pun
ished; and what can you say to the fact
that more murderers were linched than
were punished by due process of law.
Go into any city or large town and
what will you see? Open violation of
law, by saloons (the initiates can get
what liquor they want herel open
stores-and you need not go outside OF
Oakland to buy on the Sabbath, your
bread and confections-street r. r.
built and repaired shops open. theatres
in full blast, ball-games, picnics, re
pairing machinery and in fact anything
almost, but if the pulpits enter a pro-
test against it they are told to stick to
preaching the gospel But what good
does the gospel do such people. The
pulpit is applying the spirit of Christ TO
all these things, and it must or 90 down
in ignominous shame and disgrace.
Jesus denounced lawlessness. He OBJ
served law and order. Do all of His
followers initiate Him. Murder is put
among the virtues and the wholesale
pardoning of criminals is an awful illus,
tration Of the new view.
For years there has been a wide
spread discomfort in the world, which
indicated the impending storm and the
storm has burst in all its fury over the
nations of the world. 1t is only reaping
as we sowed. This is the first fruits of
an awful harvest No government,
national or state, can do as the govern
ments of the earth have been doing and
not reap merited punishment.
The principles of right and justice
have been ignored too much Selfish
ness is exalted into virtue, corruption
of public morals.is a fine art and pop
ulsrity is gained solely by conniying at
lawlessness, and entering into league
with the agents of death and the en-
mlssaries of hell. The authority of
Christ is ignored and SO the State is en-
dangered One of the greatest teach
ers of the age said the safety of the
State can be secured only IN the humble
and whole souled loyalty to H S person
and of obedience to His law" What
we need today is more of the Christian
religion in our politics, for the politics
that can t bear the light of Christianity
must be relegated to the sphere of
demagoguery. The political meeting
that is of such character as to pre-
vent a minister from presiding or open
ing with prayer ought not to be held in
any community and the meeting that is
conducted on the low plane of dema-
goguery, when bulldozing is substituted
for reason; where coarse invective
takes the place of courteous and manly
presentation of the issues of the day;
where harangue Is given for eloquence
of fact ought to be broken up by the
strong arm of the law.
The time has come when the pulpit