The Leon reporter. (Leon, Iowa) 1887-1930, 1900-05-31

beaverton human Improvement. Let
not be broken down, for "toil, re-.
peat-toil, either of the brain or, the
heart or the hand, Is the only true man,
hood and the only true nobility.
'Americanism at the Polls. ''F.it
| \. .,.a{, JOHN LAWRENCE. .i;.l II
| 1t is the duty of every citizen to give
| oJal support. to his country. Until
Juan has reached state of perfection,
the division Of society into parties and
classes will be necessary, The greatest
happiness possible comes when those
who govern are selected from the best
and wisest citizens. In the early his
tory of our race the government was
vested by inheritance In one man, who
was supreme; as we advanced in civili-
cation the governing power was less
centralized, and as we became wiser and
more universally educated we recognize
ed that there were rights belonging to
every individual, and we then became
greater factors in the government.
But then as now, vice and dishonesty
existed, and the trickster and dema-
gogue sought control of the govern
ment.
And then as now the self-righteous
uclu up IliS uOly ShlICS III uOTIOT VI COu-
tamnating them.
in order to seaure for themselves life,
They were willing to sacrifice their all to
think, and later they were willing to
lay down their lives to bequeath to us
the legacy of no taxation without repre-.
sentation, and then our fathers, to
demonstrate that the struggle of our
forefathers was not in vain, shed their
blood at Shiloh and at Gettysburg and
in the Wilderness. 1t is no uncommon
occurrence to read in our daily news
papers of the unrighteous and unholy
methods that are gaining prevalence in
American politics.
Who of US has not burned with shame
when we read of the disgraceful state of
affairs that has existed and still exists
in sister state; who of us has not read
with alarm the proceedings to deter.
mine the right of certain men to sit in
that great body, the Senate of the
United States. All this means that
there is danger of our government fall
ling into the hands of unworthy men.
| There is not single person within
the hearing of my voice but believes
that God in his infinite wisdom, will give
to the righteous the power to subdue
the unrighteous. But shall we with
folded hands and with imploring look
Ilexclaim to heaven, "Thy will be done. :"
lIIt is not so intended nor do reforms
come by any such methods.
i The American citizen who when his
daily toll is done, sits by his tireside,
reads his evening paper and proclaims
against the numerous political evils, and
yet neglects his own duty as citizen,
lis coward and criminal. He neither
recognizes his obligation to himself nor
to his fellowmen.
AS has been said by Americas great.
est orator, "We are hut links in the
great chain of being, which has it's origin
lin the creation of the race, extending
onward through successive generations,
binding together the past, the present
land the future, and terminating at. last
with the copsumpatiop of all things
earthly at the throne of God"
i What does such man, do in, securing
land transmitting to his posterity, the
heritage which his forefathers made sc.
cure and transmitted to him?
| 1t is true, "That not truth has to
Tart or to science been given, but brows
have ached for it. soula toiled and
90 Isl +. y
1t is true that not reform. not Is
sum Of human happiness has been OBJ
tanned except by incessant toll and a
sacrifice Of human life. The situation
that now confronts US is this, vice, dis
honesty and corruption are seated in
high places. What shall we do?
1t needs no statement from me as to
who would best serve your interests and
mine in the management of public
affairs, but how shall, these men be put
in places OF public trust when we refuse
and neglect our duty as American citi-
izens?
! There is and can be but one remedy.
Party strife must not bind our citizens
to vote for party merely because it is
this party or that party. Each citizen
should declare for the man most worthy
of the honor. Let men of sterling
worth and unquestionable character for
love of SELF. for love of country, and for
love Of, humanity, seek to fill ana con.
trol. the places OF honor and trust.
We are continually erecting monu-
ments Of granite and marble to our
heroes because they have transmitted
something of value to us. In a few
years the letters chiseled deep in the
stone will be ettaced by the elements
and the monuments themselves will
crumble to durt; shall it SO happen
when the mementoes have persisted we
shall forget our heritage and those who,
transmitted it to us-God forbid,
But rather let every true citizen assert
his Americanism at the Polls and then
shall this. present generation erect
monument more lasting than marble or
stone.