The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1891-04-24

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the sentiment SO often expressed, that
the politicians have everything their
! own way, and that the tax payers have
no say in the matter. However true
this may be in largo cities where the
machine controls absolutely, even if it
must falsify the result of an election, it
is not true in the counties generally,
certainly not in this county. For the
most part it is the tax payers fault.
! If be had we'll defined intelligent
opinions and the disposition to impress
them upon his neiehbors, and would
maintain them with sturdy indepen.
dence on election day, he would find
that he would be respected and by none
more than by the politicians.
The man who says that the laws
which we obey are not the laws of our
own making, and that our rulers are
not those of our own choosing may find
an explanation in the parable of lothian.
We read in the Book of Books how
, all the men of Shechem went and made
Abimileck, King, by the plain Of the
pillar that was in Shechem. and when
they told it to lothian his younger
} brother who thought AbimiIeck to be
rather small potatoes and very few in
hill" lothian stood up on the top of
the mountain and spoke to them in this
!, wise:
1.-THE trees went forth ON time te
anoint a King over them, and they
said unto the Olive tree, reign thou
over us. But the Olive tree said unto
them, should leave my fairness, where,
with by me they honour Cod and man
and 90 to be promoted over The trees?
"And the trees said to the fig tree,
come thou and reign over US. But the
fig tree said unto them, should l for
sake my sweetness, and my good fruit.
and 90 to be promoted over the trees?
Then said the trees unto the vine,
come thou and reign over us, and the
vine said unto them, should leaye my
wine, which cheereth God and man
and go to be promoted over the trees?
"Then said all the trees unto the
bramCle, come thou and reign over us"
And SO in Eastern fable do we find
an apt illustration of one Of the difficult
ties which stand 10 the way of a good
local government.
The olive and fig tree class of men
cannot be induced to leave the pursuit
of wealth, the management of their
own affairs, to take part in public bust
ness. They cannot spare the time or
take the trouble to take part in cam
paign of education, and so in despair we
call upon the bramble to rule over us.
The need of the country and the
hour is an aristocracy in every village J;
not Of birth or wealth, but of character
which shall uphold a higher standard
OF official zeal and intelligence, and
ditfuse broader and more public spirit.
Its ranks should be recruited from the
profession. the farm and the work shop
and include every public spirited
citizen.
The quickcning Influence of such a
movement would be felt in the improve
ment OF every local institution. and we
should no longer be laggards in the race
for improvement in local administra-
tions.
The first and greatest American said
that I'm proportion as the structures of
government gives force to public
opinion, it is essential that public
opinion should be enlightened.
The movement for better roads, for
better system of taxation for proper
solution of the oyster problem, for bet
ter and purer elections will be satisfac-
torily settled only by men inspired
with an intelligent and generous desire
to do good public service, sustained by
an awakened and discriminating public
opinion.
To the young men Of the State and
County their is a golden opportunity to
push forward in the very van OF the
progressive clements who seek better
legislation and the substantial better
ment of the moral and material welfare
of the community.
Upon the special subject of my
desaltory remarks this evening should
like to see an.active interest manifested
by the citizens of this county in inaugu
rating a system of improvement of the
high ways Of the State and of this
county.
1t involves some study of the subject,
a consideration of what is being done
elsewhere. The Amendment with re-
ference to the change in the metbod of