Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1903-10-22
But in the Best
Sense of the
7 ernn
Neglect Of Public
Affairs a Great
Menace

Chicago, Oct. 15.-Grover Cleve-
land was the conspicuous figure at the
meeting of the Commercial club last
evening, and he gave notable ad-
dress. After few felicitous prelimi-
nary observations he said, taking the
theme, American Good Citizenship:
There is danger that my subject
8 is so familiar and so trite as to lack
& interest. This does not necessarily
result from want of appreciation of
the Importance of good citizenship,
nor from denial of the duty resting up
s. on every American to be a good cit
4 izen There is, however, abroad in
our land a self-satisfed and perfume
tory notion that we do all that is re-
! quired of us in this direction when we
make profession of our faith in the
creed of good citizenship and abstain
from the commission of palpably un-
patriotic sins. This belief is in
evitably the parent of sort of self
G righteous contentment, which leads
us on quite well under the dinection of
their occupation. For ourselves, we
are good quiet, respectable and in
offensive citizens; and we are not poll
ticians. We ought not to be bad
gered and annoyed by the preaching
and eXhortations of a restless,
troublesome set of men, who continu-
ally urge upon us the duty of active
on nj II H.
lie affairs. Why should we be charged
with neglect of political obligations?
We go to the polls on election day,
when not too busy with other things,
and vote the ticket our party man
ayers have prepared for us. Some
times when conditions grow to be so
bad politically that a revival or stir
ringup becomes necessary a goodly
number of us actually devote con-
siderable time and effort to better the
situation OF course we cannot do
this always, because we must not
neglect moneygetting and the promo
ton of great enterprises, which, as
everybody knows, are the evidences of
a nations prosperity and influence. A
great many people and great deal of
time are necessary to periodically
care for these things; and somehow
it is more pleasant to promote the
country's good and at the same time
our own financial prospects, in this
way. than by habitually meddling in
political operations.
1T seems to me that within our
citizenship there are many whose dis
position and characteristics very
much resemble those quite often found
in the membership of our churches.
In this membership there is con-
siderable proportion composed Of
those, who, having made profession of
their faith and Joined the church,
appear to think their duty done when
they live honestly, attend worship
regularly and contribute literally to
church support. In complacent sat
sfaction, and certain of their re-
speciality, they do not care to hear
sermonizing concerning the sinfulness
of human nature, or The wrath to
come and if happily they are som :.
times reused by the truths of vital
christianity they soon relapse again
to their tranquil and easy condition of
listlessness.
There is an habitual associate Of
American civil indifference and list
lessness which reinforces their malign
tendencies and adds tremendously to
the dangers that threaten our body
polite. This associate plays the roll
Of a smooth, insinuating, confidence
operator Clothed in the garb of i'm
mutable faith in the invulnerability
Of our national greatness, 1t invites
our admiring gaze to the flight Of the
American eagle and assures us that
no tempestuous weather can ever
tire his wing Thus many good and
honest men are approached through
their patriotic trust in our free in
situations and immense national re-
sources. and are insiduously led to
condition Of mind which will not PEI
NIT them to harbor the uncomfortable
thought that any omission on their
part can check American progress or
endanger our country's continued de-
velopment. Have we not lived as a
nation more than century and have
we not exhibited growth and achieve
ment in every direction. that discredit
all parallels In history? After us
the deluge. Why then need we bestir
ourselves and why disturb ourselves
with public affairs?
The withdrawal OF wholesome sen