The Hawaiian gazette. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1865-1918, 1902-11-28
now THE PRIVATE CITIZEN
MAY RENDER PUBLIC SERVICE
An Address Delivered in San ers' heater Before
the Students at Harvard University by
h. +. Uemins of New YORK City.

the vote. "A secret ballot free from IN
limitation or bribery, have been won,
go far as they have been won. through
IN, Intelligent effort and public spirit
Of private citizens and the public opin-
ion which they have created.
The campaign now going on for free,
indicated nominations to public elect
I'VE office. from what source did that
spring? From anybody in public office?
1t is. again, the private citizen. What
progress has been made in this cam
paign anywhere, except under the pres
sure of public opinion that the private
citizen has educated? And in the great
political struggle not yet begun, but
sure to come-in which you young men,
] hope, will bear an honorable part-for
proportional representation. which
means that the basis for the election
of members of our legislative assemblies
should be the representation of ideas
and not more or less politically gerry
wandered Typographical sections Of the
earths surface when that comes. VIII
it be due to the initiative Of any one in
public office? That campaign, too, Will
begin at the initiative of private ciu-
zens and the persistence of the cam
paign, and the final victory. If it ever
comes, will be due to the public spirit
of private citizens.
Gentlemen, this is the democratic
way Any other way would do US no
good. If we have not the vitality, If we
have not the energy, If we have not the
patriotism to investigate these subjects,
to initiate these movements, to create
the public opinion and to keep up the
pressure, then we are not fit to be citi-
Zens of our common country.
The choice of a field for public SER
vice by the citizen in private station is
boundless. But why go far to seek it?
Why not take the home field? Why not
b. a puhlc-spirited citizen in your own
town? Why not do some public service
in the town and to the town where you
live, even If you are not mayor or direc-
/ tor Of public safety or commissioner of
public works or a member of the board
! of aldermen? Here is a field for pub
lie service right at your very doors
that will give abundant room for all
your energy.
Young gentlemen, do not think that
. because you do not hold office you can
/ not be of the greatest public service tG
your city. Here, too, the struggle Is tc
free the people from political bondage
Honest, progressive and efficient munic
I ipal government in this country rests
! Upon the fundamental democratic prin'
| cipe of local government. Cloth'
! the municipality with all necessary
/ power to determine and enforce its 10
cal public policy, give 1t adequate ma
chinery for that purpose, then leave Il
untrammelled by outside interference
and unaided by outside assistance. lie
it alone; let il work out its own prob
lem. This is true democracy. A super
. imposed government is not democrat
ic government The struggle of the PEG
pie Of the town toward democracy-t'
control the local affairs of their Owl
town is the handspring of the Gam
paign for municipal betterment in 'thi
country.
Now you can help in this municipal
betterment campaign. You can help II
n thousand ways. You can help creat
or sustain a local organization that vii
labor to have the fundamental princi
pies of honest, efficient. progressive
municipal government embodied in Law
and realized in practice. That Is on
thing you can do. You can join wit
others in watching the state Legislature
which is constantly interfering with tn
fundamental rights Of your town. An
you do not need to be in public office I
keep your eyes open, to call the atten
ton Of the public to the evils of legis
lative encroachment. New York city
water system was saved by its privat
, citizens from the grasp of the publ
plunderer. New York's streets hav
been saved again and again by the pub
, lie spirit of private citizens and thei
: watChfulness. If there were time
could give you scores of illustration
from the history of New York cit!
p only last summer a blunder of its pres
: ent administration came very near sac
= riicing some of the most important an
fundamental franchises OF the citizen
2 of New York. Who discovered 1t? TIL
= watchful philosophical private either
= who called 1t to the public attention
e whereupon the administration publicl
e acknowledged its mistake and joine
the ranks of the public-sp spirited either
a in having the mistake remedied.
e Whatever you are interested in yo
e can find field for public service In II
4 cities. Are you interested I'm education
5 Think what "A vast field for endeaY'
= there IL in the educational field In OF
cities. Are you interested In any phai
a of tn mnuy-sided liquor question? a
% YOU interested In the tenement houi
?. question? In the problems that con
!, from the insanitary and immor
e croWding Of the poorer classesY In Il
e administration ~ justice I'm the subo
70 dinate magistrates courts Of .cltie
y where the poor get their idea " Amer
u can justlce2 Would you sbate q
y sweat-shop eyil2 Are you concerns
e about the growing political and aeonor
y a. importance ~ our public utlity eo
p porations2 Ana - one might 10
p aui on The held l. simply boundle
for the intelligent ana effective pun
- service ~ the citizen In private static
b II h the puhllo-spillrd private ollis
j. who diagnoses tho owl discovers q
" irmriy and arousra tho public nplnl'
10 which rumpels ~ Application, Thls
n ihr democratic way ln "a democrat
n state "a b. NOT iho government VIII
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