The Newtown bee. (Newtown, Conn.) 1877-current, 1897-09-17
NUMBER 81.
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! should it be done according to the best
business principles. TO secure the highest
/ Rrs cticsl results; it should alsb be done
in the most honorable manner, for the
social and moral education of the young,
and the Christian patriotism of the COM
munity. Public office is a sacred trust.
The public service should be the embodi-
nent Of every civic virtue. A man reach
es the highest point of honor and wields
the greatest influence for good OF for evil
as be becomes the chosen servantsof the
people to make Or administer the sover.
eign law of the land. Public office en-
bodies the will of the people, 1t is the
cQpcentration of the power and authority
Of the many in lone. 1t may he honor
albeit may be dIshonorable. It depends
upon the people and upon the man who
represents them. Honorable public ser
vice is a power for good, dishonorable
public abuse is degrading. 1t is Just as
true now as in the days of Solomon that
''Righteousness exalteth nation, but sin
/ is reproach to any peop4e. ''H'When the
wicked beareth rule the people mourn"
Apd it is just.ss true of a town as of the
| State or nation.
The business of the town should be
done in such manner and in such a spir-
it that an honorable public service shall
ennoble the social and MORAL life Of the
people. AS one has said 1.-THE noblest
work of God is man who, from princi-
pie and from habit, does what he deems
is right. The highest work of thee educa-
tor is the development of such men and
women"
The towns business, and who should
do it? To some extent 1 have already ar
swerefthls second part Of our enquiry.
That the towns business may be done ac-
cordipg to law it should be entrusted only
to law abiding and loyal citizens. The
man who tramples the Law under his feet
is not fit representative of the commun-
ity to administer the public affairs of the
people. The law breaker is not the kind
of |citizen to be charged with the enforc-
ing of the public statutes. The man who
is uOt honcc iv bis or,,,, ,,-5.,o4. I.-z.--
cannot be safely Invested with the au-
thoTity to do business for the town and
the State. The man who is ready TO make
party spoils of public service cannot be
trusted to handle the public funds which
should be spent for the common good.
And so it is that the people honor or dis
honor themselves in the choice of their
official servants. ---- - - go
The towns business should be done by
intelligent, competent business men. The
man n'who has done we'll sfn the manage
ment of his own affairs may reasonably
be expected to do we'll for the town. To
get the best man possible for the Office as
you would in a factory or on farm
would be the application of common sense
to practical politics. To get the best civ
il service for the money and so secure the
greatest good to all is but the plain and
simple duty of every citizen.
To make the public service honorable
it should be in the hands of honorable
men. 1t is but disgrace to the people,
deep and lasting shame, when men who
have dishonored themselves by vice,
crime, or any ignoble conduct are chosen
to fill the Offices of public trust and re-
sponsibility.
If we would have our children and
children's children grow up to love their
country and reverence the law of God and
appreciate the priceless inheritance of
this Christian land we must make the
public service honorable by entrusting
the business of the town and of the state
to honorable and God fearing men.-CO.
| o. Wright, September Z, 81.