The Empire County argus., 1854-08-26
OnicfaIs---Rlac r,lf IN,

It is presumable when a man is selected for Office
either by the popular voice or by appointment, that
he possesses character for correctness and gentle
manly bearing which should entitle him to the con.
fdence and esteem of the community in which he
lives land furthermore that his treatment of indi-
yiduaI members Of society should be marked with
afability and courtesy Being the representative
Of the peopc-and one of tfem--he, has no right.
from his position, to break through the strict eti
quette which gentlemen owe to each other. For
mery. in the older States, it was the aim of the
parties TO select for Office none but men of the
strcest courtesy and amiabe manners In those
days for an oficial to forget himself and become
C nmon h'ackguard was an offence against society
wh'ch would not be tolerated. and the offender
u~tly received merited rebuke From apnear.
ances ia many instances the order Of things has
heen7revcrsed in California. He who can bring
himself to the lowest dcgrndation in USING opnro.
brous epithets. in setting at defiance all GENTLE
manly rules Of good behavior finds shimselffrcouentv
occupying places OF trust and profit from the hands
of the people. or througd appointment from those
having places to give.
here
are certain 'metcs and bounds" no one has IA right
to trcspasS upon. and when he does although it
was intended for certain individual, the offence
extends TO the whole community. In no sense of
the word can an licial he exempt from this rule
more than private individual In the main his
responsibility is the greater-hc he being the repre-
sentative Of the whole people among whom he re-
Sides and the sworn c0nseryator Of the laws of the
land. In this double sense the oficial should be n
gentlemanin his individual and his official capa-
city
1t cannS be said that all the officials of California
are gentlemen. AS much rs we regret to make the
charge, we know of officials, rear at home, who
nave sunk the gentleman in the blackguard, and
although they are sworn to protect the constitution
and lawsofthls State they thro disreputabe means,
seek to embrol others in quarrel in order that
they may wash their hands in blood We make
not this charge without fully understanding tho
position we occupy and although the blood may
course warmer and quicker under an insult, vet
reason dictates that no man is the better by being
drawn into personal collision with any one who
forgets his duty to himsef--the community in
which he lives and his oath Of Office as to sink the
gentleman into the rufian
Of all classes Of community the official should be
the most gentlemanly and the least tainted with
blackguardism. Especially should those having
charge of the peace and quiet of the community, be
FREQ from rowdyism, and possess an unblemished
charactera character which no investigation
could scathean untarnisbed integrity which will
stand the test of the severest scrutiny.
The official conduct of any man is public property
his acts are open to the scrutiny and animadver-
sion of all. An official station does not put the
possessor beyond the reach of censure for improper
conduct neither is he so sacred from his position,
that his acts cannot be censurcd or looked into
We hold it TO be sound doctrine that the servant
is not above the master-tha the public servant ia
not elevated beyond the reach of the people, and
when he assumes to he beyond their scrutiny, or
degrades himself ly STOPPING to vleness, he insults
the whole community who placed him in Office, OF
gaye place 10 the one rom whom he received his
appointment. L has however, been too much the
case in this Stale, ,hat the oiicial feels himself
above the peare who eleyated HIM hence the
h!ackgunrdis. he'nieeaia ~ petty oficals bccause
they believe }he paa.on shields them IN any at
.acAs ,hcy may A.1he upon propsltty and lccency.
1o.,sto4G g Of ,he .A.sus.