Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1908-12-18

our glory, or shame. There is too much
| of tselfishncss among the people which
leads them to give their undivided At
| tention to mere personal affairs The
| interests or the public the welfare of
| the ward or city, do not excite their
concern and IL domestic social and
| municipal problems are hanging above
| their heads like ominous clouds, do not
| awaken their patriotism. or compel pub
| tic service. Upon the other hand, We
| find some patriotic citizens whose con-
ceptions of civic duty lead them to n
participation III all public movements
and when meetings are called to dis
| cuss measures for the benefit of the
city and the people, to improve santa
ton and to advance tho interests of all.
they sacrifice their time and leave their
business engagements and bring to
bear their judgment and knowledge for
the common good.
CITIZENS RESPONSIBLE.
The government OF municipality is
much like, the control Of any private
business. 1t requires attention and de-
votion and tho application OF sound
business and moral principles. All peo-
pie should have q pride in their city
Its growth and development, and should
be solicltous to give it a reputation for
Civic righteousness and purity that will
enable it to take high rank and station
in the world. 1t is unpatriotic for the
mass of the people TO say that they
have no time to bestow upon municipal
problems and other public questions.
AS stated, our cities are n part of us
and Of OUR lives, and each citizen is
more or less responsible for the kind
of government in which he lives.
Whether just or unjust, the character
and lives of the people are somewhat
measured by the reputation of the city
in which they live. The moral worth,
integrity and purity OF the people are
oftentimes Judged by the reputation OF
their home towns. II the city is
known for cleanliness. wholesome, sani-
tary regulations. wise and human law'a
which are Justly and impartially en-
forced, honesty and integrity. in the
public administration of the city's af-
fairs, progressive and enlightened poll
icies, the application of high moral
and Christian principles to it's business
affairs, it will soon become known of
all men, and like the city in the par
able, it will be as one placed upon a
hill and its light cannot be hid It
will attract men and women OF charac-
ter, those who desire n clean and
wholesome environment. and it will
make for the growth and influence OF
the city.
A municipality which has unjust laws
or Is controlled by corruption and graft
will soon establish the 5undesira BILE rep
| utation, and the people within the city
will be the sufferers from such reputa-
ton. 1t is upon the same theory that
the good are judged by the company
which they keep. and the reputation of
bad associates and their direlictions
will be the basis of Judgment applied
to those who associate with them. We
should desire that our city become re-
nowned for business Integrity, a high
standard of morality, religious ideals,
sane and wholesome laws, we'll and
efficiently. executed, for love of justice
and civic righteousness for education
and n development along the lines of
music and fine arts and those aesthetic
features so essential to make a rounded
and perfect citizenship. We need a
recrudescence of municipal. patriotism
and the development of a love for local
government In the cities in which we
live.
CIVIC PRIDE ExEMPLIFIED.
In many of the great cities OF the old
world the most prominent and con-
splcuous men seek positions in order to
serve their homes and to Improve the
cltles IN which they live. They have a
pride FOR their own homes that leads
them to make sacrifices. They reject
high public stations of n national char
acter in order to serve their own homes
There is civic pride about them that
manifests itself in an earnest ana con-
soienttous desire to give to their own
towns a reputation in the world We
read In history that in ancient and me-
dlsVal times the most renowned mon
gave their great genius to the develop
ment Of the cities In which they lived.
They sought to perpetuate their own
names by building beautiful cities,
mighty temples and structures SO won
dartul IN architecture that their fame
still surviveE, art galleries. roads,
bridges acaueducts. these and other
great public municipal improvements
were tho work or thoir hands, There
was spirit OF rivalry hetwcsn cities,
the fesult OF local patriotism and eirlc |
pride. AS y result these cities beoat.p
famous al the great centara OF learning,
ter1, science. literature. They l!!;nryis.a
valopnd thrt apirit OF civilization which
contributed 10 much to tho advance
r1rnt of the world
We nil remember tho ttt;us OF tho /
laHKeatie faaEEo n.1d ut:lar great mt |
nie!pallt!es Of interior Germany and |
eontral Europe. AID tho ap!end!d rerk |
which they performed for civil and re.
ls,oaa liberty. The people OF thoae
sisias eeasne feaowred for their pa
tr1ntis',,. integrity. local pr!da and tho
eitles were known because of their inn
ftsss,iIiuilts. growth, development,
moral worth and stnndEns, 1t has be.,,
said OF them that the virtues of the
people laid the Foundation for tho Ref,
eFfnAtiea AID led 10 tho wrestling OF tia
Rttat,taty FROM tho hnhd1 OF fyrants |
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