Not the Machine but Its Operators
By Editor
SOME of the newspapers and more of the people are jubilating mightily since the election in California. For instance, in an editorial of over a column packed with expressions of joy, in the San Francisco Star, is the following: High noon has been struck on the clock in Liberty's tower, and sunshine is upon the world. Henceforth we are lawmakers unto ourselves. Wherefore, once more, hooray! And hooray! And yet again; hooray! Keep it up, for you can not overdo it.
This is tremendous, isn't it? And it seems too bad to say aught against it, and be called a "pessimist" and "grouchy," etc.; but we are dealing with cold facts. We do not want the people to be deceived, and therefore we want to tell them to prepare for disappointment, because they will find that after a little matters will go on in about the same old way after all. Men may devise the most perfect machine possible; it will be a failure unless operated by skilled hands and devoted hearts. Our political machines have not been so bad; the theories of them all sound fairly well; but their operation is another matter. The reason of this is expressed in part by Waterhouse's "Alfalfa Philosophy," printed in the Star directly on the reverse side of the above clipping: It is a good deal easier to quote the Beatitudes than it is to live 'em, an' not many of us can quote 'em.
The inner secret of all human failure lies in man's innate selfishness, expressed by Paul: "Because the mind of the flesh is enmity against God; for it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can it be." Rom. 8:7. Most men are possessed of the mind of the flesh, and therefore things will go on in the same old way. The machine will give place to the demagog pleading his pleasing platitudes for power, and the people will believe in him till the harvest. The women will enter politics, but in no other State of equal suffrage has the high noon of liberty struck; at least, one does not find a different climate in passing over the border. Now the Signs of the Times is not in politics. It is not discussing these things from a political view-point; but it does want to say to all its readers, that if they expect a time of peace and plenty because of amendments to the constitution, they will be greatly disappointed. Law does not change the heart; it does not change human greed, or human ambition, or human passion, or human lust for power or pelf. God in His Word gives the human cry of "Peace and safety" of men's devisings in these days as a sign that Christ is coming, Christ the King, whose holy reign shall know no injustice, no inequality, no misuse of power, no political or human hatreds, no death, no sin, but "the work of righteousness shall be peace; and the effect of righteousness, quietness and confidence forever." Then and not till then will high noon be struck in the clock of Liberty's tower, and the high noon of that Sun of Righteousness shall know no decline.