Gold Hill daily news. [volume] (Gold Hill, N.T. [Nev.]) 1863-1882, 1871-07-22
PUBLIC DUTY,

AAhPS AASbS
than the relations and duties which
each man owes to the State. Indeed 1t
Is not uncommon to see good men
shrinking from all political action,
from the very motive Of preserving
their characters from the corruption
which they conceive to Do inevitably
involved In such an arena. The vio-
lence Of party spirit, and the fraud and
corruption to which It leads, induce
them to think they can best subserve
their personal improvement by quietly
laying down the responsibilities and
duties which rest upon them as citi-
zens. Ii they were right in this con-
lecture, II personal s~elf-culture really
required the sacrifice Of solemn obli-
cations to others, we should even then
despise the selfish spirit that would
seek to benefit ourselves at the expense
of a public duty, but this Is not the
case. No such perilous choice exists,
save in Imagination. The welfare of
every individual is wrapped up in the
welfare of the public, and will only
be promoted In proportion to his brave
and unreserved acceptance Of every
responsibility, and fulilment of every
duty that falls to his lot. Aside from
this, however, the political obligations
which are binding upon every citizen
Of a free government have In their OBJ
servance a direct and important in
fuence for good upon his personal
character. If he discharge them faith
fully, he must be prepared to discuss
great subjects, to decide important in
terests, to determine measures affect
ing not only himself and his genera
ton, but also Of posterity. He must
consider the resources OF his country
and her foreign policy ; must cultivate
an earnest desire tor her prosperity,
and a still greater anxiety for her in-
tegrity. Can he sedulously inform
himself on topics % momentous with
out charging his mind and strength
ening his judgment, or can he cherish
such a spirit Of patriotism without
elevating his moral nature? Every
impartial and thoughtful person will
see at once that he cannot. The pub
lie questions continually arising and
appealing as they do to his reason and
intelligence for decision, necessarily
expand his intellect, and raise his
thoughts above merely selfish inter-
ests, thus giving him a breadth Of view
and 4 force Of character that can never
distinguish the people under a des-
potic government. If these are not
the actual results upon the minds and
hearts Of those who do take an active
part in the politics Of their country, 1t
Is not the fault Of the subject itself,
but Of the spirit that Is brought into 1t.
It is because honesty, candor and sim
pie. earnest patriotism are laid aside,
and replaced by selfishness, artiice,
fraud, malice and party spirit, in Its
worst forms. 1t Is undoubtedly right
that every citizen should support that
side In politics which in his conscience
he believes to contain the best princi-
pies for the country's good. But II,
when he does this, he merges his W
Judgment and moral sense In the party
he has ~espoused; If he upholds them
In all things, and at all hazards, re-
| gardless of his own responsibility to
support only what is true and right /;
If he yield to the blind fury which in
spires hatred Of every Ii who differs
in opinion and resistance to every
measure that an opposing party can
suggest-then indeed he degrades poll
tics and corrupts his own nature.
Whenever a party becomes dearerthan
n principle; whenever victory Is more
precious than truth, then moral indie
pendence receives Its death blow, and
political life Is robbed of all Its signifl-
canoe The vindictive spirit that in
spires so many to malign the motives
and to bring the most unfounded
charges against tho leaders of any
opposing party the selfish artiice to
obtain power and station ; the frauds
and brides used to corrupt men and
obtain their votes, are so utterly op-
posed to all justice and goodness that
We cannot wonder that those who be-
lieve such things to be inseparable
from politics, should hold themselves
aloof and shrink from pollution. But
the mistake they make is in confound-
Ing the subject itself, which Is weighty,
momentous and noble, with the spirit
80 often brought into it. The politics
of n free country need the soundcst
minds and the purest hearts that the
land can furnish, and these, If all
brought to bear upon its high and
absorbing interests, will purify what
Is now corrupt, and ennoble what Is
now sordid. Duties and responsible
ties can never DO shirked for any cause
without damage to the character. AS
well might a mar resign his domestic
relations because there are untaithful
husbands and fathers as to refuse to
fulfill his responsibilities Of citizenship
because many citizens are pertidious.
Nor can any man inthls country plead
inability to become a power for good
In this direction. Every n who has
good sense enough to pursue his own
occupation, II only independent In
thought, pure In heart, and loyal to
his conscience, may become n signal
influence In his country's welfare.
Each one here Is invested with power;
let him see to 1t that he neither tamely
lay It down and bury his talent In the
ground, nor yet employ it for base and
nurnnse T,nt him determine |