Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1923-03-29

A
drawn by DIR. Thomas himself, and that
| 1t can have. SO far as | see no objcc-
| tionablc features. During the time
the time that it has been before the
| Legislature | have not asked any man
| in either branch to support it, Ii is a
matter upon which every member
should act according to his own con-
| science. without influence, but | wish to
| make person statement as a matter
| Of record of my position on this issue.
1t does not matter by whom or in
what form this subject is presented.
| If only the need of such legislation
| is conceded
At time when the world is domin-
/ ated by the basest and most dcprcs-
! sing scntimentS-Whcn the law
| breaker stands behind almost every
door and the assassin SITS at many
a table and lodges beneath many u
| roor-Nhcn organized systems for
| robbery in broad daylight prevail
everywhere and. in our larger cities,
schools of murder are conducted at
a protit-when all order. if not law,
is openly dcned by some and freely
condoncd by jurors of the people
| this Legislation becomes. at once and
|
which can be presented for serious
| consideration.
1t cannot be argued that this is n
question of expense. creed or special
privilege, but purely one of policy.
The public welfare demands il. If it
! be true that morality would be in
constant jeopardy without law, the
converse is true that there could not
be. and never has been. any perman-
cnt protection of law without NOR
ality.
There is no Grandcr spectacle in
this world than the fearless and
consequently. impartial adminstra :
ton Of law by the great courts OF
our land. Men lose their lives in this
service day after day The criminal
class is vindictiye and persistent
Those judges who interpret and en-
forge the rules Of right are the con-
! slant and only sentinels at the out :
posts Of barbariSm.
1t is true that some judges may
miSconStrue the functions OF their
high Office; that they may ignorant
lN. or otherwise. betray the public
trust; that their decisions may fall
far short Of the desired results.
Eut all human efforts are imper-
feet and unsatisfactory. There is only
one just judge. He climbs nearest
the heights who looks highest.
For a time, at least, we might dc
without new systems of highways
we might with the States credit
| defer our regular approximations. We
might even dispense with the State
Capitol and forget to choose a Leg
lS!ature. but we cannot EXIST all. il
these days, without government.
! TO prove the Importance of this
measure it is only necessary to show
! that the Bible, or certain part ot
it, represents the highest code OF
! ethics. law. commerce and philan-
throphy. and provides the only de-
finite hope for the future
\ definition Of the Bible is no,
necessary, even, but if il be expected
| would offer. unhesitatingly. what
| believe to be the grandest poetic
thought of TennNson who defines il
perhaps unconsciously. but none the
less clearly. convincingly and peni-
tently as. The worlds great altar
stairs that slope through darkness
up to God"
The antiquity of tho Bible is not
essential The source of the most
ancient portion of the Old Testament
Is also uuimportant. Whether it was
| dlYineiy inspired in the scheme OF
n
necessity from cnvironmnnt-or is u
historical portrayal Of the progress
and decadcnce of human efforts. is
out side the issue
The first five books as well as fhe
Book of Job. have been supposed ia
have been compiled by Moses from
| records found in libraries of ancient
chaldea, and if not diyincIy censored
arc. nevertheless. the real bases of
the earliest organized forms of gov
crnment and law.
The Book of Job should have been
included in the proposed list. job
was presumably descendent OF
,aah. VINO IlNed IN Northern Arabia,
,hS ne period by certain illusions.
IN the poem Itself. is proven to have
Tu,-onl.-hnn, "''' 'ha' VI
rhr 49,, -.
ne u-o,1th 80 - oi,i" onc
lob ;s =, str;,,inn n,'a,,,, &c W
ana nbiIsnthranb,. 'p'e - p'oo''S
M nras,.,a,;r ~, 49,
nositi,n nroIt ~ ~, ~, , b!o'e =
the ancicnts entertained for its al.
! There was a time whom if had tn ho
transmitted from brain to brain by
| movements of the lips al midnight
| IN remote caVefns in the earth. Those
| "''' INC times "Hcn ~ was CRIME
10 even know it,
Nhlie 1t is unnecessary to prove
mat there is Supreme Oricinator or
director of the human family and il 5
aHa'rs. 1t Is. nevertheless. and always
! must be. an accepted fact. that every
| ihtefliecht being acknowledges or ha 4
acknowledged the existence of su-
premc power.
H,ti '"e lfaSt advanced types of
or imasinarm ,' f ."rS s"nps'ra'e VISIBLE