Omaha daily bee., 1893-07-23
CIVIC DUTIES OF CITIzENSH1p

1t is not-a new charge that Prof. James
Bryce brings against US in common with
citizens OF free governments generally
in his article in the July Forum. He
criticises our Indifference to "civic duty"
the neglect to fit ourselves for render
ing to the state such services as our
capacities permit at all Times, "even to
our hurt and loss" There is ground for
this structure, but it is to be doubted
that this carelessness or neglect either
exists now or ever will to such an ex-
tent as to endanger our ''fabric of
national greatness.n Nevertheless it
must be admitted to be the source OF
many OF the imperfections and evils of
popular government. This home side
of patriotism, this sober and quiet sense
OF what man owes to the community
into which he is born, and which he
helps to govern, has been found specially
hard to maintain In modern times and
in large countries" he says. In vast
population like ours Individual action
seems too small unit in the sum of ma
tional action to be worth regarding.
Then there is nothing romantic or at
tractive in the methods in which we are
now called upon to show our devotion to
the state. What can be less romantic
and, to the outward eye and ordinary
apprehension, less inspiring than the
methods of our elections meetings of
committees and selections of candidates,
platform harrangues, and hunters up of
careless voters, and marking crosses on
bits of paper in hideous polling booths,
with sawdust sprinkled floors" Further
party spirit 'tends to overlay if not to
supersede, national spirit in those self
governing countries whose politics are
worked by parties" These are some of
the obstacles to the cultivation of civic
duty that he recognizes as existing, save
in times of public danger from external
sources, or Of an aroused public indig-
nation against some marauder on the
public rights. Then patriotic en-
thusiasm and devotion assert themselves
The lesson the professor would teach,
however, is that ''civic virtue is not the
less virtue because she appears today in
sober gray and no longer in the
gorgeous trappings of military heroism"
One should be willing to place ones
country's interest "above party feeling,
or class feeling, or any other sectional
passion or motive. To be willing to
take trouble, personal and even tedious
trouble, for the well-governing of every
public community one belongs to, be it
a township or parish, ward or city,
or the nation as q whole" To excite
proper interest in public affairs Prof.
Bryce thinks is the duty of the school
master. II this love for the nation is to
be inspired at all it must be in youth,
for later absorbing cares leave but
scanty opportunity. So he would have
the coming citizen taught what his
country is and the nature of its govern
ment, the history Of its growth aVd de-
velopment, the sacrifices OF its patriots
and heroes, and scare of other things
to arouse youthful ipride in the great
ness of his country. Ala
= 1t is strange thata man OF such recog-
nlzed intelligence iand knowledge of
methods of public Raching as Prof.
Bryce should deem Hworth while to thus
admonish the people1of "a country where
the very methods hSsuggests have pre-
vailed ever since the establishment of
our public school system. There is not
country district school where it is not
the aim OF the teacherto lift the pupils
"beyond the petty circle of their per-
sonal interests to appreciate the true
width and splendor OF national life"
The professor has disclosed lamentable
lack of familiarity with the public
school system of this country 1t may
be wise for the teachers of public schools
in England or some of the other nations
of Europe to listen to his advice, but it
is very like pointing out the necessity
of teaching the alphabet as the begin
ming of the primary system to thus ad-
dress himself to American school teach
ers. However, what he says to impress
the public respecting the evils Of indo-
lence and Indifference OF the citizen to
public Affairs is sufhciently justified.