The Eaton Democrat. (Eaton, Ohio) 1875-1903, 1877-03-01
THE cALM AFTER THE STORM.

With the close Ct the Presidential
contest, says the Valley Sentinel, it is
TO be hoped and believed that the
of the United States will set
tie themselves quietly down to that
plain and prosaic, but essential duty
of existence, the earning by indus
try and thrift of an honest living. 1t
is true that in such a contest the ou-
siness interests of the country, and
even the foundation principles of the
government are, to q greater orless
degree, involved. But, in any event
of the canvass, tine best that every
man can do is to so to work, when
ever he can find it to do, and by econ
omy and energy seek to advance his
own individual welfare. With free
government preserved, as in this
country, the individual citizen can
do everything for himself, if he ex-
erts all his faculties of body and
mind in all legitimate channels to
promote his own welfare. 1t is the
testimony of universal history that
the ravages of the most destructive
wars are soon cbliterated by the per-
sonal enterprise and labors o fprivate
members of the community to adj
vance their own fortunes-it being
understood, of course, that the OPP
portunity is afforded by a real and
and not q fictitious peace. Let us
therefore hope that we shall soon
have a lull of political excitement,
and still behold the gratifying spec
tacle of the whole nation attending
to their own affairs under the assur-
ance of good and economical govern
ment secured for a long period in the
future. Not that political watchful-
ness and labor are among the nones-
sentlals of the duties of the citizen
of q free country. On the contrary,
eternal vigilance is the price of lib
erty," and not of liberty only, but
of all the great interests. of society.
1t would be as well, however, if this
vigilance were Systematically and
calmly exercised, and made to attend
to State, municipal and local affairs
as well as to those of national char
acter. If, instead of a general and
fatal apathy as to matters of imme
diate and vital interest to the prop
erty and welfare of the community,
followed by a volcanic explosion oil
popular interest and excitement once
in four years upon the occasion OF
Presidential election, there were con
slant watchfulness, care and energy
in all elections, whether local or gen
eral, it would be q blessing to tax
payers and an element of progress:
and prosperity which would ere Ions
be felt by every community in th'
country as well as by the nation a
large. 1t is not to be doubted tina
if State and municipal affairs wer'
regulated by the economy and fore
sight which prudent men exercise il
their W affairs, and if~citizens VIII
have the greatest stake in good gov
eminent would make it a point to b
always attentive to local administra
ton and selection Of it's agents, in
stead of virtually abandoning tn
| ballot to the ignorant and vicious e.
ements of the community, the exam
pie and influence would not be with
out effect upon the national admins
tration, and would render extrava
gance and corruption in that quartz
even more conspicuous and o%ffensiv
than it is now, when it seems to b
too much in keeping With the recE
lessness of fidelity and honor in Va
D rious branches of local governmen
in different parts of tie country.