Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1903-01-22
CIVIC RESPONSIBILITIES.

Under the heading OF Increased Re-
sponsibilitles of City Governments
President Joseph r. Smith has a signed
article in the Juvenile Instructor for
January Is, 1903. which we here repro
duce ana commend to public copsldera-
tion:
"The increasing frequency OF crimes
In our larger cities against good order
and the personal rights Of our citizens
must be a matter of the most thought
full consideration and Of deep-felt anxi-
ETY. to the people OF Utah. The awfnl
crimes that follow in quick succession
must shock the finer and higher natures
OF all lawabdIng and morally Inclined
citizens whose pride for the good repu-
tatlon OF our beautiful cities Is wound
ed. and whose sense Of right and JUS
tIce Is continually outraged. The
prayerful wish of every good citizen
IL that we may have less violence. and
high regard for the welfare and safe
ty OF all. There are vices untold, and
crimes too numerous TO mention that
never In city the size OF Salt Lake
come to light. and yet the Inner and
hidden life Of city must find some
expression In character, If not always
in kind, by outward violence and dis
order. 1t would be quite impossible 10
say what the ratio Is between open
ard notorious acts in violation OF law
and the hidden crimes which sap the
moral strength OF the community. II
Is safe to say, however, that the outer
and public life Of a community is large
ly affected by It's secret vices and con-
cealed evils
"a healthful and vigorous sentiment
in favor OF law and order viii do much
10 relieve our chief cities Of this fester-
ing condition. Parents are foolishly
criminal who act az though the NUM-
cipal government 10 likely to AFFORD
their sons and daughters much prolec"
ton against the snares that are con-
stnntly set to entrap them. A vigorous
parental influence should be persistent
ly exercised against the evils and temp
totions which are inviting 30 many Of
our young people TO their ruin. These
increasing evils make II daily more
and more dangerous to the welfare and
happlnes Of the people. What a city's
government lacks In the maintenance
OF order and good discipline must be
made up In the government and vigil
lance OF the home. II would be per-
haps impossible 10 locate unerringly
the responsibility for the reckless state
OF affairs In The city government. The
people at large and the officers are
largely responsible for the liberties
wicked and designing men are taking
with our rights and privileges. The
lawless element should find a prompt
md vigorous public condemnation on
The one hand, and determined sup-
preston OF their unlawful acts by the
constituted authorities ON the other.
There Is altogether too great DISPOSE
tien to count upon the political support
Of o questionable class. Men running
for or accepting Office should be made
70 feel thai they are safe In the hands
Of an upright citizenship. IL citizens
In o municipality win stand for high
standmd OF Official service and feel that
,n the choice OF the instrumentalitles OF
their sovereign power the higher quail
ties on the one side viii be pitted
against the lower ON The other, they
have no difficulty in persuading
men OF the highest type 10 accept the
responsibilities of Office. and they viii
room persuade party leaders and con-
ventions that only the fittcst can sur
yiye.
''The evils that confront US in our
larger cities today are enough TO enlist
the righteous indignation OF every man
and woman, and call for u persistent
and vigorous warfare. Because IKE
evils have existed before. or because
they may have been covered up is no
reason why we should relent. The
Latser-day Saints are numerous enough
TO bear very largely the responsibility
which every good citizen should feel
for the welfare Of our public con-
Germs.
1T may not be possible always to
determine just where the greatest
faults exist, but il Ii not impossible
TO indicate where faults are to be
found, and wherever found they should
be corrected. We have certainly done
better in the past than we are doing
now, and may We then not hope for
better conditions than exist today
Something IS radically wrong and needs
correction. let the families OF the
Latter-day Saints take an inventory OF
the moral aud religious conditions OF
their homes and ind II they can wheth-
er any member Is contributing either
by commission or omission TO the
downward tendency in government ana
good order. II we lose our sense o.
responsibility We endaneer not only our
own personal moral welfare. but the
safety OF the community which We are
In honor bound to maintain.
JOSEPH +. SMITH"