Marshall County Republican. (Plymouth, Ind.) 1856-1878, 1873-11-13

platforms and public speakers, candi
dates, offce-holders and newspaper,
agree, 1t is that the public lands shoulC
be held for actual settlers. If the senti
ment could be put to a UiUa Uoce vote
one universal "Aye 7" would go up from
sea to sea.
But we have had land-bounties to sol
diers for military services, land-scrip Il
agricultural colleges for educational
purposes, land-scrip for the extinguish
ment OF Indian titles, swamp-lands Il
States for reclamation purposes, land
grants to railroads-and somehow these
do pass into the hands OF spectators
for the most part, and the chorus oi
that very musical motto in American
politics, Homes for the homeless, ,
dies way on the ear.
instance these Illustrations not tc
find fault, but to show how much anG
now naturally legislation is influenced
and directly by the immediate interest
which presses Its claims at time, place
and occasion. One positive will effect
more than an army of neutrals. One
man who knows what he wants, and
seeks it, will accomplish more than @
hundred who don't want him to get it,
but who resolutely stay at home and
say nothing about it until it is too late.
and then indulge in the luxury of grum.
bling.
What we desire and hope for from
the oranges upon this subject is that
they will give shape, consistency and
definitiveness to that diffusive public
opinion which now, unorganized, is
heard rather in criticism than direction.
ard that lawmakers and public men
shall realize at least that there is a re-
serve force which, though slow OF
speech, will speak, and when private
and special interests are clamorous it is
safe to 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 be soon
presented for legislation of the greatest
Importance to large body of the farm
ers OF this State, and on which they
ought to be heard-that of irrigation.
Another question In connection with
this subject will be the practibility OF
using the canals for purposes of iriiga-
ton or transportation.
|
at the outset the State should adopt the
best system, and too much care cannot
be gwen to the arrangement of its de-
tails. The report of the commission OF
engineers appointed by the General
Government to make reconnaissance OF
the State will doubtless furnish facts of
great value in arriving at correct con-
clusion. l trust the farmers, who are
most interested, will give the matter
their patient, careful and intelligent at
tention, so that we shall have the bene-
fit of full discussion and free interchange
of opinion. instance this as striking
case but If the oranges shall succeed
In giving the affairs of local government
that consequence and attention to which
they ale entitled, they will do an meal
culable good.
We seem, Is people. to have a quad
rennial attack of insanity over a Presi-
Dental election. How we do "save
the country" with speeches and process
sions, and the burning of tar and tur-
pentine, 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 matter
of grave importance. That is the occa-
sion when sense of the unity of our
country is made most vidid and real to
us all. But the election of Supervisors,
School Directors and local officers are
often of more immediate concern to our
individual well-being. Good roads,
schools, correct administration of JUS
tice IN affairs of daily life, taxes i'm
posed only for common benefit and cor
rectly expended, are things that touch
us where we ive-are real every day.
Local officers, too, who are amenable to
the criticism of their neighbors, should
have the benefit of their intelligent and
friendly counsel, so that local admins
tration shall be directed as far as posi-.
BILE by the common neighborhood senti-
ment of what is right. There is home
ly proverb, Take care of the pennies
and the pounds will take care of them
selves" If the local affairs of our coun-
try are wisely administered the general
administration will not be far wrong
Indeed, government is growth
from within, and the true char
acter of any government depends
upon the local institutions of the
country, and these in last resort upon
the average character of the people
themselves. France finds that exterior
changes in government ARE ephemeral,
often only changes of name, because
local institutions and interior admins
trations remain the same. These are
the springs and wheels, and the clock
strikes the hour wherever the hands may
point. If by constant attention in each
neighborhood we can succeed in getting
our public schools as nearly perfect as
possible, we shall take bond of fate
for the security of free institutions.
Emerson says our New England ances-
tors discovered 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 to afford them. "Selectmen"
would answer the purpose and were
cheaper; hence the democratic principle
and the representative republican gov
ernment. We must keep the sources
4 Il