The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1900-03-29
GOOD CITIZENSHIP.
John IL. Wilson DiscOurses on the
Correct standard.


Correct Standard.
John r. Wilson responded to the toast,
1.-The Standard of Good Citizenship. being
to the assemblage by f. B. Mar
tindale who was presiding in the absence
of General Harrison. Mr.. Wilson said:
'Mr. POSTMASTER and Gentlemen-There
was "a story current in Washington some
years ago to the effect that upon change
OF ministers at our Capitol. by the Chlnese
government, the newly installed repre-
sentative awoke one morning about the
first of the month and was presented with
monthly bill from a Washington gas
company, which had been pushed under
his front door 1t was printed on paper or
q peculiar dirty yellowish tint; this kind
OF paper happened to be OF the exact
character used i'm China as the emblem OF
mourning. and for the announcement OF
Death. The minister concluded promptly
that some distinguished person was dead
i'm Washington and proceeded in the most
approved manner to put the legation build
ing in deep mourning.
Now. when you look at the theme al
1ctted me. YOU may, like the Chinese minis
ter be impressed with its serious, II not
solemn. character: but do not be mlsled;
i am not going to sermonize. The theme Is
most appropriate, properly interpreted
What need is there upon such an occas-
ion. and under the circumstances that call
US togther, to lecture on the duties OF clti-
zenship I'm the Republic? III this were
banquet to our artist friends. Steele and
Forsyth, it would be most appropriate TO
associate with IL the standard or art; II
il were for our friend Riley. the poet IN
like manner il would be proper to place
on the intellectual bill of fare some theme
concerning the standard of poetic art; so
too were this banquet given In honor OF
the distinguished gentleman who presldes
as POSTMASTER, what filter than some
toast concerning craftsmanship? In any
one of these instances the speaker might
dc with propriety. did Tycho Brahe. the
great astronomer. who. when invited 10
address an audience Of students OF astrOno-
ny. stood up in a beautiful hall. with its
dome painted in imitation OF the heavens;
is theme was 'Hesperus, the Morning
Star" Looking over those gathered, and
after hesitating, he pointed to the bright
star above and declared: Behold Hesperus.
and sat down. In short, the theme is not
allotted for dissertation, particularly, but
rather because it fits the occasion and finds
we meet
THE STANDARD.
what is the standard of good citizen
ship? Probably the question ought to be-
what are the standards Of good citizen
ship? The man or woman who. in the spirit
of practical disinterestedness and cheerful
readiness, earnestly and intelligently
serves the communicable city. State or
welfare. is the public spirited citizen; and
re or she who rises to the full measure of
exalted duty i'm noble and unselfish work
in such behalf, furnishes the exemplar and
the standard of good citizenship. This serv-
ice may be in the domain covered by leg
isation, or may be outside of this jurisdic-
ton in the larger sphere of individual en-
deavOr that the work is wrought. Il was
about to say i'm this connection something
OF the Golden Rule, but there some
whose sensitive partisan spirit might OBJ
Ject to any such reference) Tested by the
foregoing obligations, the word citizen
knows no gender, no color, no age; ii
knows no creed nor sect, and In the large
volume of conduct, ought to know nothing
of party politics. If 1 were called upon to
frame a maxim approximately covering the
conduct of such citizen. / would say that
what is everybody's business is my duty.
1T is obvious that IL is not the mere pos
session of political rights that makes the
citizen; 1t is. the use of these rights that
makes him, for the real value of a right
here rises and falls with its use. The own
erShip OF farm does not make a farmer
1t is not the mere freedom Of speech that
determines its value. Such a right may not
be used at all or ii may unlock the lips of
the babbler, the bore and of the dema-
lican government. the 5ubonic plague of a
free country.
FAILURE OF DUTY.
''It has been truthfully said that the
member of family who does not con-
tribute his share of work and of happiness
fails in his duty and is bad kinsman. The
member of partnership who does not en-
deavor to enrich it with intelligent indus
try defrauds it of what belongs to it and
I'm sense is dishonest man. 1t is the
same with him who enjoys the advantages
of having a country and does not accept
the burdens of it; ne forfeits his honor
and is a bad citizen. In, the Attic Phil
osopher' there is an interview between an
old soldier who wears two badges of honor.
wooden leg and the cross of st. Louis,
and young soldier 1t beautifully brings
out the duties of the good citizen. And
what must one do TO be a good citizen?'
asked the young man. Do for your coun-
try what you would do for your father and
mother said the old soldier, and following
this answer, as he placed his hand on the
shoulder of the young man, he continued:
Perhaps you have never thought what
your country means; it is all that sur
rounds you all that has brought you up
and fed you, all that you have loved. This
country that you see, these houses, these
trees, those girls who go along there laugh
ing-this is your country. The laws which
protect you, the bread which pays for your
work. the words you interchange with
others, the joy and grief which come to
you from the men and things among which
you i1Ne-tnlS Is your country. Inc little
room where you used to see your mother,
the membranes she has left you. the
earth where she rests-this is, your coun-
try. You see it, you breathe 1t everywhere.
Think to yourself my son. of your rights
and your duties, your affections and your
wants, your past and your present bless
ings; write them all under a single name,
and that name will be your country
"As citizens of republic we have a
right this evening TO indulge in self-gratu-
lation as we look back over the large
scope OF our history and observe the wis
dom and courage with which our citizens
have met and solved those questions of SUI
preme Importance with which We have
been confronted. There have been at least
three of these great questions. The first
was a question of the independence OF
Great Britain, the second the question OF
the formation OF federal government I'M
der written constitution and the third
the question of the maintenance of that
government. A country whose citizens ear
answer such questions wisely and success
fully is one to live in and to love
MUNICIPAL POLITICS.
Were 1 TO name one particular in
which our citizens do not rise to the full
measure of their political duties, L would
say IL was in municipal politics. Were L tc
say 10 each citizen of indianapolis that ht
was good for nothing if he did not attend
the primaries and exert himself to secure
the nomination of the best candidate, at.
tend the polls on election day and vote
and follow up these mere preliminary steps
with Jealous endeavor and scrutiniZing at
tention to realize the very best for tn,
community in all matters within the jur
isdiction of municipal authorities. some