The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1884-04-05
THE GOOD CITIZEN,

THE GOOD CITIZEN.
The devil has no holidays, and he imposes
upon his representatives and followers the
same industry he imposes upon himself
There is little danger in anything where all
the factors are known and can be calculated.
The danger is in the unknown. In cities, at
least, it can always be taken for granted that
the vicious, lawless, defiant classes will be alert
and aggressive. It is only the "good citizen"
who cannot be counted on, whose whereabouts,
influence and work cannot be safely and re-
hably computed. Hence, the good citizens
compose the dangerous classes" and it is
from the dangerous classes that every city
may we'll pray to be delivered. All this is
very tlite; but still the necessity exists for
the constant repetition of the truth-for line
upon line, and precept upon precept-until,
perhaps, the day will come when the social
fabric can rely upon the salutary presence, and
influence, and work of ''the good citizen,
with the same certainty that it can rely upon
the vicious. When that time comes there
will be no dangerous classes, and the knotty
problem of municipal government will have
been solved.
When Mr.. Lincoln phrased his classic
maxim, "a government of the people, by
the people and for the people" the people were
ready to listen, ready to respond. In great
and perilous crisis men put behind them their
selfshness, their Incidence, their carelessness
They did not ehuckle over the good things
they had accumulated, and invite their souls
to eat, drink and be merry. With thunder all
around the sky, the crashing of bullets and
the running of blood on every hand, it was no
time for drunken apathy; and so men listened
appreciatively, and by religious resolve and
heroic deeds kept this "a government of
the people, by the people and for the people"
It is still government of the people, but it
is not by the people and for the people.
1t is 10y only part of the people, and that
part the worst part. The fateful fact has been
drummed into drowsy ears time and again, but
the sleepers will not awake, unless they are
1ssailed by the bludgeon of the rioter and
confronted with the torch of the incendiary
and the bullet and the baI1icade of the enc
mics Of social order, The flames of the Gin
cinnat court house and the dead bodies of
sixtyodd people, sacrificed during seventy
two hours Of anarchy, have succeeded in some
what arousing public attention, but it is yet
far from general awakening. Already there
are echoes from different quarters that show
the enemies of the existing order to be alive
and eager. There are many indications that
not only in Cincinnati, but in all the larger
towns and cities of the country, the spirit
that feeds on riot and fattens on fame and
pillage, is only waiting the moment when it
can break its leashes.
What can be done? Make this "a gov
eminent by the people"-by all the people
Let the good citizen conclude that he
has as much to do with the government as the
law breaker, or the political debauchee who
makes boast of controlling primaries, Elk
ing conventions" and manipulating elections
Let us have the good citizen" somewhere
else as well as in his slippers and gown be
hind his plate-glass and in front Of his
anthracite fire. somewhere else simply than in
his store, counting groom, office, library and
club; somewhere else beside, than in coy
Pews at fashionable churches, feeding on re
ligious CONNECTIONS, or in the "amen" corners
of less costly meeting houses praying for the
second advent and shouting over the sup
posed triunohs Of the gospel; somewhere else
as well as in class meetings and prayer meet
ings very few are here, however: not enough
to hurt the world any on do the church much
good). Let us have the 'good citizen" at the
precinct primary, at the political meeting, at
the ward election; let us have him in the
City Council, in the township and county Of
flee, in the State Legislature and in the jury
box. This is a very practical world, and the
''good citizen" must be practical man. If
practical politics" are sneered at and aban
doned by the good Citizen" there need be