The Democrat. (Scotland Neck, Halifax Co., N.C.) 1884-1896, 1896-04-23
-.tTen Tor THR DEN oCEAT
GOOD CITIZENSHIP.
IT DEPENDS on THREE THINGS.
Ancestry, Education ana Principle.
BY REV. c. II. whitaker.

This is a large subject Citizenship |
applies not only 10 the visible machln-
cry Of government, TO the laws and
those who execute the law, bat TO The
social fabric as well, to the moral char
acter and daily conduct Of men. Web
ster says a citizen is a permanent in
habltant OF city or country, who Is
vested with the nights and privileges Of
citizenship. Good citizenship means
that the duties and responsibilities
which privileges always bring are rec
ognized and accepted with a determlna-
ton OF faithful performance. The good
citizen, while kind, gentle, benevolent,
honorable and gracious, is watchful,
brave and answering in his opposition
to the evils which are around Believing
that, Eternal vigilance is the price Of
| liberty" he watches that he may bring
good to pass and thus overcome evil.
The ideal good citizen is all this and
/
be discussed under three heads good
ancestry, good education, good princi
| pies.
/. GOOD ANCESTRY. Phrenologists
have asserted that a man does certain
things because he has certain shaped
head the gypsy, with cunning and de-
ception, VIII tell your fortune by the
lines OF the hand-but the one who
| paws the highest fee will always have
| the most fortune. These fail to prove,
! but scientists and historians have prov
ed that certain traits and dispositions
characterize the members of a family
| from generation to generation. Whose
son art thou thou young man., was
far more pertinent and wise question
for the tall king Of Israel to ask the
rosy checked shepherd returning from
his victory over the giant whose armor
and accoutrements were load for
horse, than the cynical boast OF the
poet,
Has crsa5te f5tent 4npfggttg pggt gifn9bJ]a blaod --.~-
the food.
Through all the worlds history, sons
have followed the footsteps OF their Ia
tbers until it Is a matter of no surprise
when the son Of q tradesman becomes
merchant, or the son Of physician
: nrescribes bread pills for his younger
brothers and sisters. 50 may we eA-
Meet the descendants Of good citizens tC
no natriotic and the ranks Of the crlml-
nails TO be recruited from the children
of conyicts.
A physician was called to treat man
: for delirium tremens and arrived alter
tbe man was dead and some one said, ex
> citedly: doctor, you came too late !!
"Yes." said the physician, "a hundre'
: voars too late" The ancestors Tor tW
or three generations had been gwen |
d the abuse Of ardent spirits.
Q Our Saviour makes a similar alluslo
q | when ne Salu 10 Il40 ~
fathers killed the prophets and ye bun
their sepuIchres." It is necessary
T. no horn in order to live IN this WorI
to and to live we'll one had better be We
II born.
GOOD EDUCATION. You ma
,s have horse whose pedigree reach
!. hack through a line of noble slres al
dams Ia the days ofSolomOn, or Deyon
- a. I believe the Arab claims for hl
er b,t unless he is educated, unless he
er ce1yes proper training, he will be Wor
be nothing as a horse. lie might dellg
nd the eve with his arched neck al
symmetrical form as be stepped prou
IL by. but mere beauty Is not IN
mand and he must be trained 10 ser
re man or ne ls not wanted And so, go
= ancestry Is not enough, but our cl
=, zens need to be taught the duties
citizenship, taught that liberty o(
- ,ot mean license that there can be
ary ,,bertv without law and that wise a
nj rood laws contribute to happiness, 81
the cess and prosperity. We need TO kn
that bad men VIII not make good Ia
and that we, the people, are respoh
~ hle for the laws and their entorceme1
ure "When the righteous are IN author
esk the people rejoice but when the WI
YIN Cd beareth rule the people mourn,
as true as 1t was twenty-nlne ceht''l
;, 90 ago.
We need to recognize the tact Il
We I'VE be brethren" and that If we Wo
G Is rise if must be by helping one another
!, or ! VOL 10 talk OF the fatherhood OF
who tnt 7 tear we too often forget the br(
~; erhood Of man, and if not II ac
words ii effect, we pray Bless us
i1o' I'D no more" NO man lyeth I
hes himself" in a business, social or po
ind, cal sense. and if the attempt Is II
nd" failure Will be the result. we nee
~ no +onoht that it is as wicked to 5
votes as it is to steal money