The sea coast echo. [volume] (Bay Saint Louis, Miss.) 1892-current, 1894-12-01
OFFICIAL RESPONSIBILITY.

progress, prosperity and welfare of
their town depend on the selection
of proper men, men who have the a.
biiity, integrity and capability, men
who would perform their allotted du-
ty in the absence Of the entire pop
ulation as well as though their every
action were Icing guarded by a
"crop Of armed men," The "don't
care" and "spitefur' voter is an in
jury to the ballot box, his mere
presence around the polls is sugges-
tive of corruption and contemplate
ness, he is an infringement on the
righteousness and liberty---liberty OF
purity in our form Of snvernm ent.
That city officials have the reins in
their hands TO drive "the horse Us
they will must be admitted, and
with that fact staring people in the
face would IL not be better il the
prominent men we're to take part in
the elections and see that no "round
log" waiting for somebody to take it
down hill, be elecied2 Strange what
little interest will DO shown by men,
who stand high in their town, over
municipal elections, yet these same
disinterested men arc first and
have the most to say when anything
happens to go wrong-a kind Of a
cry over split milk case.
There are towns we know of that
have many advantages, offer many
inducements, have big surrounding
country, and yet these towns never
prosper. Has it ever suggested itself
to the voter that he is in part to
blame for 1t, that he did not think
quite hard enough before voting2
Ao buo lISc VI bnc lail VI uu luutNiuu-
al depends upon his head, so does
the rise or the fall, or in other words
the going back or the advancement
of municipality depends on those
whom you place at the head Of its
government. Where is the average
voter who does not regard the Office
of alderman as Of minor impor-
tance, in fact, something too small
to be thought about at all, and, Of
course, votes accordingly This evil
does not belong TO small places only,
but TO large places as well. In the
impeachment trial of Mayor Fitzpat-
trick now going on in New Orleans
some important disclosures, regard-
ing the duties they were elect
cd TO perform are heing made,
which demonstrates the incompetent :
cy OF those officials to hold the posi-
tion their popularity won for them,
This is decidedly a poor way to-
ward municipal REFORM" elect men
who can reform your government
and not men who the government
has to reform, elect men who not
only can see where reformation is
needed, but who correspondingIy
understand the fundamental prin-
ciples of government. Every coE-
munity has good men, why not
show them they, and they only, are
the men wanted to conduct and
guide their town to a standard of
recognition, and not pick up any
stray "know nothing you may
chance TO meet on the street who
will reduce your town to bis own
depravity,
Tie question Of good city govern
ment in its various meanings and
connections Is too serious and i'm
portant for transient consideration.
The preponderance Of purity Is un-
dsniably too essential to honesty to
permit indifference, but should
stand pre-eminent in the mind of
every man who is averse to corrup-
tion. A government, particularly
that of city, can never grow so old
that it can take care of itself, with
every change of authority it be-
comes again a child and needs deli
cate, but careful and positive nurs-
ing. Why have a republican form
OF government il In it we cannot
boast Of honest and patriotic legis-
lation? We had better cast it to the
winds il we do not exercise our IL
berty and freedom In a manner that
will prove conducive to prosperity
and progress.
We do not wish the foregoing to
be be understood as an attack upon
onr worthy officials, who we all
know "are good, vice and honorable
inen;" but a word in time, we trust,
will not be snperduous, besides the
present delegation cannot, despite
universal regret, always remain IN