The Cairo bulletin. (Cairo, Ill.) 1???-1928, 1904-03-17
MUNICIPAL GOVERNMENT.

In the absence of the required an
nual message from the present may,
or, perhaps some suggestions of value
may be found in the following intro
ductory paragraphs of message de-
livered to the city council of Cairo on
the evening Of March IS, 1867, by
Hon. Jno. Fl. Oberly, then mayor Of
Cairo, and editor of The Bulletin. His
argument in favor of good municipal
government as an important factor in
household happiness Is TO the point
and timely:
~ Just inside the threshold of new
official year In the history of Cairo,
you have met together In your official
capacity this evening to enter upon
the discharge of the important duties
which your fellow citizenshave i'm.
posed upon you. This occasion Is
therefore one of more than ordinary
moment, and | feel irnpelled to avail
myself of the opportunity which 1t af-
fords me to call your attention to
matters, in my opinion, bearing upon
the interests of your constituents, and
also to certain measures OF local pol
icy which, in the language of the
charter, deem expedient for the adj
vantage of the city.
Local Government.
Gentlemen, the position you occu-
ply as councilmen is one of Jresponsi-
bility. The character of its citizens
and the advantages OF its locati1n
have much to do with the growth OF a
city; but there are many causes be
yond the control OF the citizens, and
altogether independent of its location,
which may contribute to it's growth
and prosperity. If the men who en-
act its ordinances and those whose
duty 1t is to execute the will of the
municipal legislature, are able and
honest. no city Is fortunate and its in
terests will not be retarded. but be
fostered with care and skill The
federal and state governments are al
a great distance from us, arc clothed
with something like mystery, and to
the casual observer seem to be the
fountain from which household hap
piness as well as national greatness
flows; but an analysis Of cause and
effect in our American system of
politics would prove that the LOCAL
governmentsiof our land-the govcrn'
mentalof the townships, counties and
cities-bring either happiness or dis
content to the household within their
influence; that in fact, these act
upon. give tone to and make up the
character Of the grander government
Of the states and union. When the
municipal corporation is well gov
erned, the people who compose it
have little reason to complain, even
though the nation is controlled by
corruption and fanaticism, or domi.
neered over by epaulated ignorance;
but when the municipality is led BY
extravaganza, thoughtlessness and
corruption. the people who compose
1t will have good cause of complaint
even though consummate statesman
ship, honesty and sterling patriotism
give shape to the policies of the cen.
trail government. II there Is truth in
this proposition, and am at loss
to surmise who can doubt its sound.
ness, nothing could be more difficult
than the naming of position Of
greater responsibility than that which
you are now entering a position re
quiring cool headed deliberatiop, tact
end wisdom, and from which even
the suspicion of corruption and the
folly Of prejudice should be summar
ily exolnded am sure. gentlemen.
you will meet the responsibilities Of
the position wisely and perform its
duties we'll"