University of Oregon monthly., March 01, 1908, Image 6

U N IV ER SITY O F OREGON MONTHLY
9
not stained. * * It is- twice blessed: it hlesseth^him- that gives
and him that takes.” And there is something wrong with the than
who has not this melting sympathy, this forbearing compassion- in
his heart. It is a gift from heaven, a clear flowing fountain, that
revives the spirit crushed and beaten down in the harsh struggle
of life; the heart of man has recorded in the institutions that govern
him- a higher law than blind justice,’a law of- equity and mercy. -
,B>t we have forgotten the meaning qf'that word mercy. Too
often our so-called mercy sets the guilty free regardless of national
welfare.-.- Because the guilty man was previously a respected mem­
ber of- our midst, we hesitate to punish him, to dishonor him, to
bring shame to his family, and so; we seek extenuating circumstances.
But in a larger sense, is this extenuation merciful? Merciful to
whom? True mercy sternly punishes as often as it sets at liberty.
The most tender mercy of the mother is that which inflicts upon
they child just punishment. Counterfeit mercy knows neither the
welfare of the subject nor the good of. the state. It is sentimental,
politic* and condemns,^-thrice- condemns: condemns the giver in
that he loses his power
discriminate between right and wrong;
condemns the receiver by confirming him in his contempt for law;
condemns society by contributing to the general disregard for. law,
by making it a light thing to violate the law. Though all the
forces of my soul, crying out -against the sin and blackness
man,
impelled me to -slay , my neighbor, could I demand at the hands
of my countrymen my life.? Rather should .it not be made* a holy
sacrifice to that larger need of the nation? Justice must have4ier
course that a nation may live; “The very mercy of the law .cries
©ut most audible.”
The- ever growing need of our country is a broad-minded,
deejy-thinking patriotisk. She needs the services of sons and daugh­
ters'“ who look below the surface: and farther than the needs of the
hour,- who recognize,§ as a foe to .permanent government the pallia­
tion of. wrong, the indiscriminate and blind mitigation, that over-,,
looks the right, forgets, the needs of the nation, and clothes the
wrong-doer | with a ' Sentimental, destructive, pity: Our eyes are
closed to the portent of this evil Because it is cloaked in the hypo­
critical garment of, a false virtues But it is upon us, as a vampire
■ the night, drinking the lifeblood, of the nation, perverting justice,
undermining law, destroying national unity y .Jt is not enough that
our President' and a few brave followers should enforce the lgws.
Alone they cannot fight the fight. What will it avail if the great