The Newtown bee., 1904-11-04
SOCIAL TOPICS.
OUR REPRESENTATIVES,. o. o.
 WRIGHT.

l Our government is representativ
 government. We have Constitution
 which sets forth the fundamenta 1 ideas at which we aim; and the essen
 tial principles by which we agree tt govern ourselves under God. The State is Christian. We agree to nv,
 together as Christian citizens. w, propose to govern ourselves according
 to public statutes and common law which we have made, or have beer made for us by those who have beer chosen to represent us.
 We recognize the fact which is al the sure foundation of all social order, l that the Providence of God is over us l the source of all government, author. ity, and power; and we claim that iu our social compact all have equa 1 rights. "NO man or Set of men are entitled to exclusive public emulu. ments or privileges from the c,,mmu nity." No party, Sect, or corporation has any civil or moral right to uSurp the law of the State to gain any sel- fish end at the expense of even a small minority. The law is alike over all; the greatest good of the whole is the end of government; the common wei fare is the chief colicerD.
 According to the Constitution of Connecticut every man who has the right to vote ''Shall sustain a good moral character" "and the oath of all electOr binds bim to cast his ballot with an eye single to the greatest good of all.
 From this point of view how impor- tant 1t becomes that our legiSlatOrs should be true and faithful represent atives of all the people. It is not enough that they stand for the politi- cal ideas and policy of their party; they are charged with the public af- fairs of the body polite. The con- mon welfare of the town and of the State, financial, social, and moral is intrusted to those who make our laws, and sentiments of those they repre- sent. And for that reason we have a right to insist that we shall be fairly and properly represented in the Gen. eral Assembly of the State, whichever party may be in power.
 We may think that it makes some difference whether a legislature is a Democrat or Republican, and each elector may have his preference in that matter; but however that may be, each party alike is bound to honor the Constitution and the laws and to serve the public, of which it is the servant.
 Our representatives first of all should be representative men. Men of char acter; men of intelligence; men who are honorable and respected; men who stand for the best and highest in the community; men of good report among the people; men who are prosperous and successful in business; men who are progressive and responsible. Whatever party may elect them we all have right to demand that they shall be men who represent us,-men who are competent to do the work of legislators, which is no mean or easy task, men who are respected at home, and will be respectable, at the Capitol of the State, or where yer they may be.
 Every man who has a vote and a voice, owes it to himself, to his fam lily, home and friends; to the town in which he lives, and to the State as the giver and guardian of his most sacred rights, to see to it that he is repre- sented ::in the government which he helps to make. by men who are at least trustworthy and intelligent.
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