The Hartford herald. [volume] (Hartford, Ky.) 1875-1926, 1885-08-05
NO. 81.

to multiply examples. Instances OF
bad citizenship are unfortunately mat
tiers Of daily observation. Ii is useless
to discuss whether in our day the
standard of citizenship is declining or
being elevated. Certain it is that there
Is room for vast improvement now as
there always has been. To define a
good citizen is to do little else than
describe a good man. A good man
Lives not unto himself" Selfishness
Is not his sole spring Of action. He
has clear views of his individual duties
and his social duties. If a Christian,
he is Observant of his duty to his Maker
and his church. He remembers that
he owes duty to his country and his
fellow man. He fsvors everything for
the common good and opposes every
thing that works public injury. A
good citizen needs neither law nor con-
stitution written by men. He bears
within him an educated, sound and
healthy conscience, by means Of which
he readily distinguishes the only narrow
path Of right, from the thousand high
ways that lead to wrong and ruin. Put
such men in charge of your govern
ment and in every post of trust, and
you will hear no more of new eonstitu<
tons or bad laws. The children Of
Israel had laws given to them written
by the finger of the Deity, yet bad
rulers perverted these laws and brought
disaster on that people.
Instead of more laws it is better citi,
zenship that Is needed. II Is a press
ing and practical question, and one to
which our best thought should be de.
voted. Much can be done to educate
the public conscience and arouse the
better and healthier sentiments Of the
people. l say much can be done, but
1t is not probable that much will be ae>
eomplished As matters go. The best
plan and the only practical one to ele-
waite the standard of citizenship, Is to
rear better citizens. Begin with your
children, fathers and mothers, from
infancy. "The hand that rocks the
cradle rules the world" is a beautiful
expression and a true one. The Bible
the source of all wisdom-eharges
parents to raise up their children in
the nurture and admonition of the
Lord. As q rule that better part of Us
all--what Of virtue there Is in our na-
tures--was implanted there in the
homes Of our childhood and youth.
That is the place to make good citizens.
Point me to a good citizen, when and
where you please, and will, as a rule,
show you one who was blest in parental
training. A better example is not to
be found than our patron saint, he who
was first in war, first in peace and first
in the hearts of his countrymen.
When the revolutionary war had ended
Lafayette was starting to Europe. He
called on the mother Of Washington to
pay her his final respects. He was
giving vent to his feelings i'm praise of
the son, and spoke of how much
Washington had done for his country,
and how unselfish and heroic he had
always been. Her reply was, II ex-
pect George has done well and deserves
some praise he was always q good
boy" The venerable matron argued
well. Good citizenship must have its
foundation broad and deep in youth.
Parents owe ii to themselves, to their
children, to their country and their
God to look after their offspring with q
view to good citizenship. BY the faith,
full performance of this duty from gen.
Grafton TO generation, free government
will be perpetuated and posterity will
rejoice in the possession of the rights
and privileges Of American citizenship,
when your speaker and his hearers
have long slept beneath the clods Of
tine valley.