The government very properly interfered to curb aggression and extortion. That is a most appropriate function of government, but a very inappropriate end and can be carried too far.

Just cause for complaint did, does and always will exist. The Kingdom of Heaven has not yet been established by human agencies. Greed of gain, whetted by indulgence, led to practices in many instances reprehensible. Some of the big fellows who had achieved great things, and rightfully owned what they had accomplished, seemed to think they also owned the little things that others had done. Punishment became necessary and the government administered it wisely and with lavish hand. Not a few of the big boys were whipped in the presence of the infant class, a thing always gratifying to juniors. Thereupon, all the little people became hilarious over these just punishments and it became a pastime to get after “those higher up.” One of our distinguished senators is credited with the statement that the people changed the motto over their Temples of Justice to “Soak Him.” It soon became more difficult to secure the acquittal of an innocent man of affairs, than it had been to convict the guilty. Until time is no more the pendulum will continue to swing from one extreme to another.

I know of no better illustration of the necessity of punishment and the desirability of quitting when its purpose is accomplished than an incident told me by a man who claimed to have been an eye-witness.

Back in the days when young men attended school until they were married, a theological student attempted to teach in a country district on the frontier of Ohio. The big boys became obstreperous. He urged them to treat him respectfully for he said he was studying for the ministry. The effect was as one might suppose. They carried him out, they washed his face in the snow, they dipped him in the creek until he gave up in despair.

Shortly thereafter, another youth applied. The director told him he could not maintain discipline. He said if he failed, it would cost the district nothing. Certificates to teach were then unknown. When the pupils assembled, they found him sitting at his desk reading. They looked him over, sized him up, thought him an easy mark and commenced pounding their desks and stamping their feet, and kept it up until nine o’clock. Then the new teacher laid aside his book, locked the door, put the key in his pocket and called school to order. The preliminaries having been unusual, silence was secured. He informed them they need not attempt to escape, for the windows were nailed down. Then, opening his carpet bag, he brought forth a revolver, a bowie knife and a blacksnake whip. Then after warning the pupils not to arise until their names were called, he summoned John Jones to the floor. With whip in one hand and revolver in the other, he proceeded to give private lessons. When through with John he called Bill Smith. He did not need to ask their names. After going some distance down his list, he told them they had probably learned more that day than they had ever learned in any one day in their lives, and perhaps as much as it was wise to attempt to learn in one day, adding: “When you come again, come expecting to obey the rules, attend to business and make no false motions. There will be no further exercises today.” They never knew whence he came nor where he went. He had performed his mission and wisely left future tasks to his successor.

I did not inquire concerning the subsequent history of that school, but I understand human nature enough to know that if his successors were men without plan or purpose or policy of their own, and only sought to repeat the popular practices of their predecessor, they permanently ruined that school. There was but one wise course. Without apologizing for what had been done, or lowering the standard of discipline, there should have been a return to the ordinary tasks of the schoolroom without unnecessary delay, for I declare to you that corporal punishment is not the purpose for which schools are established, nor are criminal prosecutions the aim and end for which governments are instituted among men. Both are essential at times, but let us hope that captains of industry and business men generally have learned their lesson sufficiently so that it shall not be necessary to continue indefinitely what was so admirably done a decade or more ago.

Unless punishment is discriminately administered, demoralization will follow, and if the big boys are whipped for no other purpose than to please the little folks, they will probably go fishing. And whenever the big boys of America take a day off, trouble ensues. Only a very few years ago, I saw a thousand men standing in line awaiting their turn for a cup of coffee and a slice of bread at the hands of charity. Business simply could not stand the lash incessantly applied. It had taken a day off.

Then the war came, abnormal demands were created and great prosperity ensued. But before the revival of industry, sufficient time elapsed to permit a fundamental economic principle to be elucidated in the greatest school of the world, the school of experience.