The Bossier banner. [volume] (Bellevue, Bossier Parish, La.) 1859-1952, 1907-12-12
DOING ONES DUTY.


That the world would be much better II
every one would do his simple duty is
truisnl. It is astonishing, however, that
the world is as good as it is, considering
the great number of people who shlrk their
duty. Most men like their ease, and to
obtain it avoid controversies as much as
possible and suffer wrongs rather than go TO
the trouble of resenting them. This toler-
ance gives rise to another class OF men,
sometimes criminal in thier conduct, some
times merely disagreeable, who, relying
upon this well-known frailty, elbow their
way through the world, demanding or TAX
ing more than their share of the good
things, encroaching upon the rights OF
their fellows, and generally conducting
themselves without regard or consideration
for other people.
This class could not exist if their victims
would do their duty, and, instead Of tamely
submitting to imposition to purchase a
little ease, would resent it and demand their
rights. 1t is kept in reasonable subsection
only because some men do more than their
duty and defend the weak or timid. So
also there would be little difficulty in con-
Quoting democratic form of government
in the interest of the whole people if every
citizen would do his political duty. But
great numbers neglect this duty altogether;
others are timid about asserting their rights,
and rather than have trouble permit petty
leaders to act for them. This reserve,
timidity and neglect of duty on the part of
large number Of citizens gives rise to the
professional politicians, who, assuming to
act for their constituents and uniting in
organizations that can command votes,
soon get control of affairs and manage them
for their own selfish purposes. In this case
also the evil done is surprisingly small con-
sidering theopportunities afforded for doing
mischief. 1t is kept within bounds by the
vigilance Of other men who do more than
their individual duty by organizing reform
associations and seeking to rouse their
apathetic fellow citizens to resistance. But
then these men act only upon great provo
cation, spasmodically. They have no in
centive to constant labor, for they have no
selfish purpose to serve, and they are not
willing to continuously cope with perma-
nent organizations held together by "the
cohesive power of public plunder.''
All the charitable and public spirited
work of a community is done by a few men,
while the rest stand idly by, admiring them,
perhaps, for their zeal or devotion, but
offering no help. There is neglect of duty
on all hands; performance of it, instead of
being considered a matter of course, is
lauded as a virtue. These are simple OBJ
servations of matters of fact, true as to all
communities of men. A very large number
of people in all centres of population neg
lect, to a greater or less extent, their per-
sonal, political and public duties that they
may promote their own ease and comfort.
Some of their fellows take advantage of
this laxity to prey upon them, while few
Jealous and sturdy men and women seek to
make amends for the neglect and it's evil
consequences by doing much more than
their duty-providing schools, homes, hos
pitfalls, libraries and asylums and forming
associations for the enforcement of the
laws or the publication of politics.
1t is useless to merely lament this condi-
ton of society, Or to sigh for the time when
all men shall do their duty and thus make
unnecessary much of the philanthropic
work of the present day. The wise thing
to do is to resolve to promote this mellen-
mum by taking at least one out of the
family of drones and adding that one to
the family of busy workers. All men
should honestly and courageously endeavor
to do their full duty, personal and public,
to the end that so far as they themselves
are concerned the world shall be better
rather than worse for their presence in it.