Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1906-07-02
DUTY OF CITIZENS.

/ ~ n ~ ~ AsfAfahaf
with the understanding of the posi-
| tive and the negative attitude OF The
government toward principles OF pub
lie policy, il should be easy for the cit
izen 10 determine his own duty and re-
| lationship 10 the nation. And % would
| be easy, n each one would give his
close personal attention 20 the study
Of the subject, and approach Il On the
spirit OF loyalty But too many neg
| lcct this important study. thinking
| II Of no Importance. SIN others APP
proach Il In "a spirit ~ antagonism.
They are Ike the lrlshman who came
20 America. He had been accustomed
TO antagonizng the British govern
ment because Of what be considered
its injustice 10 the Irish Therefore,
when he was approached on HE arrI-
val here with The question, whats
your politics. he answered, Il don't
know, s0rr; but / tell you this right
now. I'm agn the government"
II Is unfortunate that this should be
the attitude OF any immigrant. 10 lis
much more unfortunate that 20 should
be the more unfortunate that 10 should
be the attitude OF a native citizen Yet
10 is not uncommon for us to- ind men
who have only words Of ceusure for the
government ana It's officers believe
that every public act Of an officer Of
the government. general or local,
should be pubiic property and placed
without reserve IN The lImelight Of pub
liclty. But a. one writer has said. the
light should be- white-not Colored yell
low with the prejudice OF the observer
and critic. The virtues Of the official
work 81 an officer OF government should
have as clear recognition as his mis-
takes. A man should not approach
the study OF his own relationship 10 the
government from the wrong standpoint,
lest his attitude 20 the government be
wrong also.
What, then, should be the attitude OF
the cltzen2 The answer is easily given,
though not so easily observed In prac-
ilse. All men and women should re-
gard themselves as citizens, friendly to
the government jealous OF its honor,
guardians Of its reputation at home
and abroad. They should speak well "
Il, whenever possible. In public. and
reserve just criticism for times and
places where good and not harm viii
be done by t. They should praise its
principles. and live them. They should
give 10 It's officials. so far as possible.
the benefit ~ the doubt. Last and
most important they should thoroughly
inform themselves Of their active du-
ties 10 the government. and that with
the friendly intention Of performing
those duties for their own benefit and
The advancement Of the state and ma
ton
a country Ike ours does not thrive
on Ignorance. We welcome enlighten-
ment The educated citizen Is the best
citizen, II he has the right education.
No man can know too much OF mis- re-
lationshlp 20 the nation, II he has learn
ed Il with constructive purpose. lie
who knows bis duty best can perform Il
best. Whether the duty be the filling
OF public office the performing OF po-
ltlcal labors. the correction OF abuses,
or the maintenance of high Ideals, he
is the enlightened, earnest man who
can best perform that duty. lgnor-
ance and darkness are always danger
GUS.
THE ESSENTIAL ELEMENT.
This then, Is the essential element OF
loyalty 90 the natlon-to know ones
duty and do IL. That there IL need Of
this active loyalty. goes without say
ing. The government lives by loyalty,
Il cannot exist without active fealty,
Il depends upon the faith and labors Of
its humblest citizen. as much as the
army depends for its success upon the
bravery aud devotion Of the humbest
private In the ranks And II each clu-
zen would approach his daily duty with !