The Jasper weekly courier. [volume] (Jasper, Ind.) 1858-1922, 1891-07-10

= characteristics snssisasIon ef Eariy view
England.

| In New England the body ~ voter
IN the town attend the stated Marcl
meeting AZ the call Of the selectmcn
II j. as mnch their duty "a remain Al
day and 10 take part in discussing IN.
| Affairs ~ the town ns 20 east their bal
lots for governor or presidential elect
ors. The warraEt for the town meeting
notifies the townsmen Of the business,
that will come before them. In add
ton 70 the articles relating a. the regn
lar and routine proceedings Of the occa
sion are special articles which have
been inserted ia the warrant Al
the reques, ~ private citizens.
Zach voter has printed copy 81
the town report II contains mi.
nutcly ltemixed account ~ the exrendi.
lures ~ the pass year These items are
criticised or defended IN the town The
debate \ gcaeral Appropriations are
voted Usually there Is a subject
which breeds exciter.crt. II may re-
late 70 = project FOR new school-houSe.
"a the building Of a new sewer. The
work that shall he done for the coming
year is determined. The manner IN
which roads and bridges shall he re-
paired i prescribed All the business
transacted in villages by the board Of
trustees i done by the ;ownsmen them
selves Everyone knows what i 10 be
done Everyone has the opportunity to
disclose what he knows OF the misfea-
sanees Of town officers. 10 suggest how
work might have been better done. how
money might have been saved
The results Of this method in the fis-
cal affairs II localities and upon the
character Of the state governments have
been indicated as fully rs is possible
within limited space. The influence
Of the town-meeting government upon
The physical character of the country.
upon the highways and bridges. and
upon the appearance Of the villages. is
familiar 10 all who have travelled
through New England. The excellent
roads the stanch bridges. the trim tree
shaded streets. the universal signs Of
thrift and Of the peoples pride in the
outward aspects OF their villages. are
too well known 10 be dwelt upon.
The town meeting has also devel-
oped an intelligent. active-minded. alert
people. Participation
m public business has induced patri-
Dtic interest in the art of government.
u i true that the intelligence OF the
average New England rural voter is
best shown in his opinions and action
n town politics. but this simply indi-
'ates that the citizen should not un-
necessarily undertake the control of
matters not affecting his own locality.
ior should he give 70 agents meeting
n remote capital large and impor-
ant jurisdiction over the individual.
The New England townsman knows
low 70 transact public business.
The first task Of every town meet
ne IS the selection of moderator. In
New England town nearly every man
4 prominence has presided at one time
4 another over the town meeting.
wen they who have not must be IA
niliar with parliamentary law and prac-
Ice. for the clear and simple rules Of l
'ushing and Jefferson are deliberately I
discussed not only by the lawyers and
ne clergymen. but BY the doctors. the
tore-keepers, the mechanics and the I
armers IL would be difficult 70 find in I
New England community man who
an not take charge Of a public meeting
nd conduct its proceedings with some
egard TO the forms that are observed
! parliamentary bodies On the other
and. it would he difficult in any
Their part Of the country to find q
itizen who has not held Office who has
ny knowledge Of such forms and OBJ
ervances. In New England there Is
q voter who may not. and very few
oters who do not. actively participate
! the work OF government. In the
Their parts Of the country hardly any
ne takes part in public affairs except
ne oftice-hoider. The effect Of this is
rccisely what may be anticipated.
he man Of the New England town Is
luipped for the larger stage Of the
ate or nation. The tyro from New
ork who IS sent 70 Congress must
arm the lesson which the other ac-
uired in the town meeting. Henry l..
olson. in Harper's Magazine