The record-union., 1891-05-21
THE ROOT OF ALL THE EVIL.

THE ROOT OF ALL THE EVIL.
President Eliot of Harvard has been
lecturing on municipal government. As
rule he is too top-loftical for ordinary
questions. But in this instance
he appears to have got at a kernel
OF reform by declaring that, in order to
to get good service in a city, means
must be found to make the tenure of
public occupation secure and permanent.
With the continual changes going on and
liable to occur at any time of political
emergency, competent and fit men dis
like to enter the municipal service. They
Gan do better for themselves elsewhere.
Which is true, but as the Epoch adds:
The main difficulty in dealing with any ques-
ton of municipal reform lies in the indfffer-
ence and apathy of the great body of the citi-
Zens 10 the existing state OF things 1t is easy
enough to suggest improvements in the
methods and principles of municipal admins
tration, but the great question is, how are you
going 10 get your Improvements adopted :?
Those in power are against them, and so long
as the people keep on putting such men in
Office or allowing them to be there, an IN
superable barrier is in the way of introducing
Inherent methods.
Which is but another way of saying,
that what the people of a city want well
done, they must manifest an active inter-
est in. Even an Indifferent official under
the spur of vigorous public sentiment
may be made to do fairly well that which
the need demands. There never was a
Tive city with an Indifferent voting
citizenship. A city will always have Just
the kind Of government and administra-
ton of the laws that it merits. The gov
ernment, save in rare cases, is level with
the sentiment that sustains or the in
difference that permits it.
We may complain ever so loudly in
Sacramento that needed reforms are dali
lied with and never undertaken, but the
cause Of the i'll is with ourselves. We
have, therefore, to begin at home with
criticism. What we permit to be done,
we are responsible for, and we can
scarcely clear our skirts of respon-
sibility by protest. But infinitely better
than protest is prevention, and that is
secured by wise selection of public
servants.
There is altogether too much faith
pinned to legislation. People are apt to
think that the end of reform is secured
when denunciatory or regulating law
is passed. The truth is, the fewer laws
we have the better within the limits
necessary for restraint of the vicious.
The great and overwhelming need OF
every community is the active, manifest
and aggressive sentiment of weIl-doing
and reform accomplishing, moving upon
and among the people.
No community can prosper in which
the majority of the people attempt to
evade responsibility. Under our system
every voter is sovereign power; he is
responsible as well for his silence as for
his action. he has no more moral right
to remain idle and see community in
SSAS9eS ~ " VIC Jugs GIldu Ne mas 10
assist in the decadent process by affirma-
tive action.
1t is very difficult to draw the line OF
distinction between the goody -goody
citizen, who toasts his toes and leaves to
others the care of community interests.
while he criticizes their efforts as re-
ported in the morning journals, and the
rough and tumble citizen, who does battle
for the privilege of keeping thieves
den and a cut-throats' rendezvous. Both
these classes, one by action, the other by
indifference, contribute to the same end
At least the inactive man, however poor
and humble, can, by expression of his
views, add to the sum of public judg
ment, and give some encouragement tx
one or the other side of all debatabl,
questions.
For every man owes something to thu
town in which he lives, and what is NOR,
it is a continuing debt He who does no
acknowledge it is drone; in leavins
duty-dolng to others he puts an undue
burden upon those who do manifest in
terest in community veal. An open 70,
to city is not nearly so dangerous to i
as an indifferent friend. The first may
be met, combatted and overcome in
fair, open fight; the latter to the active
citizen is always doubtful quantity; b,
is at best a hobble, weighing down and
numbering every effort to better com
munity conditions. He cannot be shaker
off, nor yet can ne be quickened to 81
much as protest against evil. The q,
don't care" or 81 am not interested
citizen is the handicap that must be car
ried by progressive sentiment.
So. to come back to Professor Eliot
proposition: If mis-government il
Arnerieau municipalities is due to tn