The Montgomery advertiser., 1902-02-02
--s-~-s------ GOOD CITIZENSHIP.

What are the duties of a good citizen in a republican government? is a query that has been put by an esteemed correspond ent What constitutes good citizenship would require an essay too long for the limits of a newspaper editorial, but there are some essential features which may be mentioned. Almost two dozen centu- ries ago the great Athenian orator. Den- osthenes. thus defined a good citizen: Tn authority his constant aim should be the dignity and e-emlnencs of the com monweaIth; in all times and circum- stances his spirit should be foyal.''
 F Taking the times and the circumstances that was A very good definition. Athens was in some respects Republic. and it was considered one of the highest duties of citizen to be loyal to those in au- thority, as it was the pride and glory of the latter to prove themselves loyal to the State. Allowing for the difference in governments the answer of Demosthenes would serve now. As we view 1t, citi- zen of this republic has two paramount duties before him. If a, private citizen, he should use all his influence and his efforts to the work of eievating good men to office, and if he is an official, he should perform the duties of his office for the good of the State and the people.
 Many otherwise good citizens do not fully realize the responsibility resting on them as individual members of the body polite. There are few men so humble that they have no influence. but there are men who never trouble themselves to exert that influence in the selection of those who are to make and execute the laws under which they live. There are many who are ready, to criticise the laws which protect them, and to condemn those who make or execute those laws, but these same grumblers never trouble themselves to go to conventions or pri- maries and assist in the selection of good men for candidates. often. too, they do not take enough interest in the welfare of the commonwealth to go to the polls | for the purpose of voting for good men or against bad ones. They remain aloof until the work Is done by others and then complain that it was not we'll done A sensible man will often take more trouble and interest in purchasing a pig than he will in exercising the right of suffrage one of the highest privileges in free government.
 | Many bad men are elected to office be- duty 1t was to put in good men and keep ' out bad ones, and many a good man fails of political success because of the apathy or indifference of those who should stand by him. As The Birmingham Ledger puts | It, More attention given by the better element of citizenship in the selection of | public officials will accomplish much. The corruption of public officers is tracable in a large measure to the criminal indif- ference of so-called good citizens. The cultivation of civic virtue and the reali- zation by each individual of his respon- sibility for government will give wiser and purer government, municipal. State and national"
 The second branch of the subject only carries the duties and obligations of the citizen a little further and higher. A man in office, whether it is his province to make or to execute the laws, occupies 1 the dual position of a guardian and ser want of the people. He is their servant because they have placed him in position to execute their will. and he is their
 guardian because they expect him to
 guard and protect their interests. In a
 republican form of government every men is a sovereign. In a strictly demo- cratic form of government every citizen
 has vxce in all the affairs of govern.