The Rock Island daily Argus. [volume] (Rock Island, Ill.) 1872-1873, 1873-10-28


Il but who resolutely stay at home and
say nothing about il until it is too late, and
then indulge in the luxury of grumbling.,
What we desire and hope for from the the
oranges upon this subject is that they VIII
give shape, consistency and detlnitlvehess
to that diffusive public opinion which now,
unorganized, is heard rather IN criticism
than direction, and that law makers ana
public men shall realize at least that there
is a reserve force which, though slow OF
speech, will speak, and that when private
and special interests are clamorous It Is
safe 10 wait until those general interests
can be considered which are often the first
TO suffer and the last to be heard.
One subject will doubtless soon be pre-
sented for legislation of the greatest i'm
portance 10 a large body of the farmers OF
this state and on which they ought to be
heard-that of irrigation
CANALS FOR IRRIGATION AND TRANsPo'
TATIoN.
Another question in connection y 'm Inns S,ns
subject will be the practicabity; r ~ at;S
the same canals for purposes e "'''"
and transportation. .rtance that nj
II is of the highest INF - ~ a.
the outset the state sbc.o %uop' Ine oes'
system, and too muct ~; ~, losaHs IT Tl So ~
70 the at .La eo, mission of engineers APP
p oie oi bv ,1e general government to
po ai rSonnoisance of the state will
dn Ian furnish facts of great value in
srr;viag at a correct conclusion. | trust
tbe farmers, who are most interested, will
give the matter their patient, careful and
intelligent attention, 50 that we shall have
che benefit of full discussion and free in
terchange of opinion. instance this as
striking case but if the oranges shall sue
coed in giving the affairs of local govern
ment that consequence and attention TO
which they are entitled, they will do an in-
calculable good
We seem as people, 10 have quadri-
ennial attack of insanity over presidential
election. How we do save the country
with speeches and professions, and the
burning of tar and turpentine, the blaze of
Roman candles and sky rockets and the
explosion of gunpowder. Distant be the
day when the election Of president of the
United States shall not be considered a
matter of grave Importance. That is the
occasion when a sense of the unity OF our
country is made most vivid and real to us
all But the election OF supervisors, school
directors, and local officers are often OF
more immediate concern TO our individual
we'll being. Good reads, schools, correct
administration of justice in affairs Of daily
| life, taxes imposed only for common benefit
and correctly expended are
THINGS THAT TOUCH Us WHERE WE LIVE.
Are real every day. Local officers, too,
who are amenable 20 the criticism of their
neighbOrs, should have the benefit of their
intelligent and friendly counsel, so that local
administration shall be directed as far as
/ possible by the common neighbOrhOOd SEN
/ timent of what is right There is a home
/ ly proverb, take care of the pennies and
the pounds will take care of themselves -
/ If the local affairs of our country are wise
" administered the general administration
will not be far wrong. Indeed government
is growth from within, and the true
character of any government depends up
on the local institutions of the country, and
these in last resort upon the average char
acter Of the people themselves. France
finds that exterior changes in government
are ephermeral, often only changes OF
name, because local institutions and interi-
or administration remains the same These
are the springs and wheels, and the clock
strikes the hour wherever the hands may
point Ii by constant attention in each
neighborhood we can succeed in getting
our public schools as nearly perfect as pos
sible. we shall take bond of fate for the
security of free institutions. Emerson
says our New England ancestors discover
ed that the pOmps and shows Of royalty,
with horse guards, and foot-guards, big
wigs and little wigs, knights OF the bed
chamber etc, were unnecessary. Perhaps
they were too poor 10 afford them. Sc
lectmen' would answer the purpose and
were cheaper hence the democratic prin-
ciple and the representative republican
government We must keep the sources
pure if we would have the stream clear.
aud not allow republican shows to destroy
republican simplicity
Concluded tomorrow.