Lancaster daily intelligencer. [volume] (Lancaster, Pa.) 1864-1928, 1884-08-26
lancaster fntelligcncrr,
TUESDAY EVENING, AUG. 20. 1884
The Cause OF IL.

The Cause Of IL.
The Examiner complains of the bad
pAvements Of the city, and the complaint
Is certainly we'll founded. 1t has always
seemed strange to US that good side
walks at least were not secured to us ly
the exertions of the city authorities,
seeing that they eau be had without
cost to the city. the property owners
being required by the ordinances to keep
them In good order. When they do not
d)s1 the city has only to relay them
aud charge the cost against the property
with an additional penalty. II happily
illustrates the constitutional inefllciency
OF officials In this free country, that they
will not do what the laws require them to
do when II costs the government nothing
TO do it. Every spring notices are sent
/, property owners, fercely requiring
them to repair their sidewalks. Good
timid citizens do it; but tho expe
rienced old stagers pay no attention to
il, knowing that it is all noise. BY and
by the good people learn the lesson and
pay no attention either the consequence
being the disgraceful state of the pave
ments. Possibly Lancaster Is no better
of than other towns. There is no great
encouragement to officials to do theiI
duty in our country, since people are sc
lax In their requirements of them ant
the good officer Is rs little likely to retair
his place as the poor one. Dan Trewit.
was a llrst.class street commissioner, q:
every one said, and thougha good street
commissioner is 50 rare a bird he wa!
not retained IN Office when his party
went out. Philadelphia had an excel
lent mayor in Mr.. King, and yet The
people put another in his place
II it was possible to get poll
tics out of municipal government
we might hope for good article bu
so long as people crafty their party pre-
judces iu preference to securing theil
substantial welfare. they need not ex,
pect good government or grOwl whei
when they do not get it. We do not d,
it any longer. We stump our toes OF
the sidewalk holes and smash on
wagons on the mounds and gullies auC
railway tracks of the streets in spirit o
resignation, taught by our experienceth
they are inseparable concomitants Of fire.
governments. We know that theoretical.
these things should not be. We know
that we should get the worth of tn
money drawn from US in taxes tia. "
should have well-paved. well lighted
well watered and well poliCed streets
with no druukards psrading them, n
loafers on the corners, no beggars G
peddlers at the door bells, no rag and oil
iron howlers, no cattle drivers cursin
their beasts In the small hours Of Il
morning, and no shrieking whistles COT
tinually disturbing repose But this Is
free country, where everyone may NAL
as much noise, smoke as many cigar
chew as much tobacco, drink as nut
liquOr, eat as much melon and do
much for his own delight, with as lit
regard for the feelings Of others as ms
please him. Theoretically every citizen
bound to use his liberty with the lea
possible detriment to his felloWs
practically he may do as he please
so that he don't hit them or pic
their pockets. He may swnd
them If he does 1t decently, aud sland'
them If he runs newspaper, aud the
run for Cllice. This is one Of his hig
prerogatives. His tongue is the memb,
particularly lovely to liberty. The G
perienced American citizen soon learl
10 distinguish the practical working
his institutions from the theOretic
teaching of his schoOldays. He regre
the time wasted in learning and unlear
ing the principles of government, al
gets his sons Z better start in life
posting them as to their imperative du
and unrivalled license to take care
number one.
Our government officials are men TIN
educated by wise parents, and taug'
that their only unneglectable duties a
to collect their wages and poll the
votes.