Catoctin clarion. [volume] (Mechanicstown, Md.) 1871-1940, 1884-05-08
A Good Citizen.

OF certain individuals Oh Ille community
as good citizens and those chosen, as a
rule, pass under such distinction in the
opinions Of the majority, without ques-
ton and without denial.
Let us consider the kind of man Of
whom the customary remark that he is
good citizen. is spoken. The first
necessary qualification is that he say
but little; this is an absolute -requi-
site and subioined to this must be the
further condition that when he does
talk it must be strictly in reference to
Ills own business he was a man that
never interfered with other peoples
business that is the first thing usually
said of the good citizen.
Saying little renders it a matter of
small consideration whether he thinks
at all, hence, the prime considerations,
if one aspires to be a good citizen in
the eyes of the general public, are.
strict attention to your own interests to
the exclusion of all others say little,
50 that you disagree with the fewest
possible, and if You think at all, do it
for pleasure, being careful not to per
init any ideas to escape you or become
practical.
Another circumstance that tends to
perfecting the title is that you shall
speak we'll of all, regardless Of what
your experience with part may have
been to lend your good opinion as
prop to characters that are in need of
moral starch, rather than allow them
to fall, although sosne one may be un-
der them, to your knowledge, at the
time.
In word, be harmless; be conscrya-
tive; afsi avs seek the golden mean Of
inactivity; be careful to do no harm
wnd it will not be necessary that you
should accomplish large amount Of
good to reap the reward that is be-
slowed by the general public, when
they speak of you as a good citizen.
Have we not painted the average
good citizen?
Do we not reflect the character of
numbers who are accounted good citi
zens, as, by careless and unthlnklng
standard, men are accustomed to meas
ure others? A brief period Of thought
given to the subject will satisfy any
one that we have correctly described
what is usually taken to be the good
citizen while it will require but little
more consideration to satisfy the reader
that these who have proven themselves
to be of the highest order Of good clti-
aenship, have beo4 such, Of whom the
very converse of the above propositions
may have been spoken.
An agtator is not necessarily fool
or a revolutionist, nor is it a. necessary
consequence Of much talking that a
person make a nuisance Of themselves,
although we believe t9at the chances
Me in that direction, but a man with
an idea ana an object ahead of him
should debate it and demand public
hearing, if it be Of interest to more
than himself, and on that point every
one should be permitted, in the prem
iscs to Judge for himself.
Such course engenders discussion
and one contradicts and is contrad!cted,
and even should practical good come of
it, it is probable that the author : as,
in the course of the matter, detracted
from, rather than added to, the quail
fictitious of good citizenship, as ordin-
arily accepted.
The Ilan who calls q spade, a spade,
can never hope to attain to the per-
lection of the title of good citizen. If
he should invariably speak of it as an
implement guided by the hand and
driven by the foot, used in overtusning
the soil of the domestic truck patch,
he might aspire, but, if he calls specu
lation, gambling; paying man days
wages, buying votes; religion, sectar-
jansm reform, hood with which to
bind the eyes Of the guileless; politi-
clans, professional deceivers their ben
efciaries, professional toadies, and the
ordinary citizen in private life thun-
dering Ounce for not recognizing all
such by their proper names, then he
might as we'll attemp5 to pick up
Chimney Rock with a pair of sugar
tongs, Or dip the Monocacy dry with Il
teaspoon, as to hope ever to hear Linn
self spoken of as good citizen.
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