Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1890-06-27
Pull for Your Town.

~ 10 " SiSae SOOu thluS W lONc OuC 3
town and to serve it, as one in large
relation may love and serve ones
country. Real loyalty to country
must begin at home, and we cannot
unite with his neighbors to serve the
community wherein he lives, and do
so gladly, is Il poor patriot at best and
under all conditions. The Salem
Journal has never tired of saying this,
and it hopes it never may.
When one finds he is out of sympa-
thy with his town, and can only say a
good word for it coupled with an
apology, lie ought 10 get out. If he
cannot find congenial town on the
face of the earth, he might look for
such place elsewhere and meanwhile
serve his race by living in the utmost
possible retirement.
Many people fall into sort OF un-
conscious habit of growing and do
not mean anything bad by it. 1t is as
dangerous for stranger to take sides
with them as it is for the average NOR
tai to interfere in quarrel between
husband and wife. But it is a miser-
able habit. Such people make them
selves particularly independent. The
town is precisely like the individual.
The individual has about all he can do
to get along under his own loads, and
he wants help and encouragement
from those going his way, and who are
with him in interest. So
with the interests to care for. And it
needs all the pluck, all the energy, all
the cooperation and helpfulness its
citizens can provide and bring to
bear
Every man is part of his town.
The town embraces the fortunes, and
in some measure at least, takes on the
character of the man. SO loyalty is
in the line of all well-shaped human
nature. Therefore it is right to say
that the man who does not stand up
for his town is in some way dwarfed.
There is something wrong about him.
His fellows will pass their judgment
upon him, and the chances are that
while he may add to the disc omfort of
others, he will not escape making
himself unhappy.
Society is so ordered that its health
fulness rests ON q basis Of mutual de-
pendence, and therefore individual
members of society can only discharge
their benefits OF its order by doing
their part to help others. The sue
cess of life is in the measure of good
service one may render, All honora-
BILE, praiseworthy, lasting compensa-
tions lie in the direction of services,
and not in the direction of selfishness
and purely self-seeking. 1t is hard for
many people to appreciate this funda-
mental fact in social economy, but the
truth of it is established by all the
history of the world.
1t is healthful to cultivate love of
ones town and of its people and Of all
its interests. 1t enlarges ones heart,
ones powers, ones capacity for SER
vice and if he has strength to spare,
the schooling widens his vision so that
he is enabled to look into the world
and see how innumerable are the
doors that lead to the brotherhood of
man, inviting to many avenues of
usefulness.
There is no lack of genuine leader
ship-leadership that invites conf.
dence, that promotes respect, that
promises helpfulness to others. The
spurious article is inevitably short
lived. The character that wears, that
grows in confidence and esteem, is the
genuine character that really makes
neighborship and honest co-partner-
ship.
Work for your town, then. If you
cannot trust your fortunes with it, it
is your plain duty to get out. Don't
be a deadweight. Don't throw your
self in the way Of others and insist
that the only way for the procession
to move is to run over you or to carry
you bodily.
Wherever you may be, get right
into the traces and pull. 1t will make
a