The Mitchell capital. (Mitchell, Dakota [S.D.]) 1879-1918, 1903-11-06
TRUST THE PEOPLE.
NO Need to Fence in Public parks-
American Citizens MOT v,,L.

SII'GSES MOT VSndaIS-
LINES: The immense crowd thai
80 nciAihley square on the occasion OF
az unVeiiihs OF the monument taught a
lesson TO the custodians of public pronerty
III Inc respect 1t had for the flowers and
sniuooery. Everybody expected after the
uioWu had gone to see the sod cut IN and
nlterea' with refuse and the flower beds
aanipieu ana broken down. There was
ample precedent, unfortunately for .M"aass
this view. ~ Just
Inc way Toledo people conduct +h.n
selves IN our parks sometimes and tho
way private grounds are broken into 90
aespolled of their treasures, of flowers and
SHRUBS ana blossoms and fruits amnly
S Isl - the pehef that the efforts of tha
court mouse gardeners would be all m
lone In the crush that was inevitable when
the ceremonies took place.
But there was nothing done to nro+a,.
lhe lnanlmate beauties. Their own purity
ana sweetness and innocence was thai.
ohiy ueiense, and more effectively did This
stielo r1lem than a Gordon of blue-coated
policeman could have done. The croua
saw the flowers and respected them
Ferhaps some of that spirit of tender.
ness ana sympathy and love for the beau.
Iiiul which made the life of McKtnIev
81 LesPlenoent with virtues inspired them.
iernaps that public spirit which
Is ~ the heart OF every man was power
1ully appealed to. The flowers Vera
saved. And those who saved them H,ere
az unconscious of the good they did then.
ana Will yet come to them because of this
thoughtfulness of theirs for others.
Inc superintendent of public buildings
ana grounds at Washington, D.. c.. has
lesfheo something of the same lesson thar
ne unVelllng incident has taught US. that
crowds of people are not wholly vandaI
anu mat the best way to keep the grounds
sale and in good condition is to appeal to
me people themselves to take care of
them. '"
ne mas decided to remove all the fences.
iaLlhss ana other barriers to the public
GROUNDS and reservations and parks in
that city, and to trust to the honor and
Pooilc sense of the people to see that the
parks do not suffer from the liberty
we peneVe that people generally will,
appreciate the trusts that are thus i'm
posed upon them. Toledo people have for
d long time enjoyed with self-control the
toMe[s ana ~shrubbery on the many
breathing spots that are scattered about
our beautiful city. These plots are guard
ed by nothing save their own appeal to
the magnanimity and appreciation OF tha
people, and while there are a few harbor-
lans among us who do not always resnect
the rights OF others, and who wantonlv
carry off or destroy what cannot carve
them, and whose loss robs others tbase
are but a, few and rapidly diminishine
number.
Inc people will do better when put on
their honor in many things, PERTAINS all
Things. Most of the vandalism is the re-
suit OF a selfishness that is only an altr,,-
ism wrongly directed. Most Of the harm
that the world suffers from is ~thoughtless.
ness-a too limited perspective. There 10
a spark OF the divine in every nature
enough to kindle it to all good works, If |
It only be blown upon rightly. There are
put lew men who cannot be safely trusted |
U they are appealed to appropriately
Force and authority always cut out much !
work for themselves by their mere APP
pearance. Let's a down our fences
and trust each other more. We shall ali
be found more trustworthy. So |
'lety viii be given another strong impulse
the only kind of regulation that ia
perfect, the automatic and subjective