The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1908-08-27

and Politics.

dIlQ FO11llCS.
| The highest duty of citizenship Is
the making of full use of the right Of
suffrage, for upon the use of suffrage
depends the enactment of laws and
the enforcement of laws.
The word politics" has come tc
mean in common usage, the chicanery
| that has been the result of the growth
of harmful organizations. In its real
definition, however, politics" has a
far different meaning. Read Web.
ster's definition:
THE science of government; that
part of ethics which has to do with the
regulation and government of a nation
or state. the preservation of its safety,
peace and prosperity, the defense OF
its existence and rights against foreign
control or conquest, the augmentation
of its strength and resources, and the
protection Of it's citizens in their,
rights, with the preservation and i'm
pTovement of their morals"
Common usage has given to the
word and its derivatives a meaning
far different from the above. To be a
politician nowadays does not signify
dignified student of the science OF
government Let a man be known as
politician and the great body of cfti-
zens look upon him as being guilty OF
a white sin" The very cogRomen
calls to mind election chicanery.
If the word become again common
in its true sense, if the word poll
tics" again indicates to the ordinary
man. the study of the preservation of
his country's safety, peace, and pros
perity, then men would again become
politicians in the true sense of the
word and no disgrace would accom-
pany the title.
1t is the duty of every citizen to
study the government, first of the COM
Immunity in which he lives, township or
city, then his county, his state and his
country. A true citizen cannot neglect
the government. He may be satisfied
TO let the government take care of
itself; ne may feel that his vote will
make not one iota of difference in the
great result; he may be content to let
his neighbors guide the ship of state:
but, by his very contentment and neg
Hgence he is offending his fellow citi-
zens, and fails in the highest duty of
citizenship.
In the republican form of govern
ment, the people rule by party. The
questions of the best laws to be exact
ed and the best means of enforcing
those laws, are discussed and decided
by the people at large. In the broad
sense of the expression, the affirma-
tives are araryed on one side, the neg
atives on the other, and constitute tie
political parties
That party which is right in its con-
tention wins to it new members and
thus places into effect those methods
of government for which it stands.
Government is dependent upon poll
tics; and, politics must be argued or
discussed only through political par
ties. The citizen VINO would do his
full duty, must take part in politics.
and to take part he must perforce
choose the party whose PRINCIPLES
stand for those things which in his
judgment will benefit his country
Having thus decided, il becomes his
duty TO aid in placing the men who
will apply the bepefitting measures
when elected into Office. This can be
done only by working earnestly with
his party, and taking an active inter
est in the campaign. He should take
part in the sub-Organizations of the
great whole, and through those sub
organizations influence his nefshbors
into taking the same personal interest
in the politics of his government.
Every citizen should be a politician
in the real sense of the term. He
owes it to himself, 10 his neighbors
to the community in which he lives. 30
his state, and his country. The best
patriotism is not found in the roar and
glamor of war. but in the preservation
OF the country's safety, peace, and
neutrality-suspicious. by studious
attention TO politics"