The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1909-08-12

this man was cringing at the feet of
justice. confessing that he had bribed
an entire municipal assembly to pass
railroad franchise bill. He was will
ing to die for his country he said, but
by his conduct he had shown that he
was unwilling to live for his country.
He had patriotism en- his lips and
treason in his heart. He aspired to
be patriot, and he was traitor of
peace.
This man was but a type. Many
men would be willing If necessary
to give up their lives for their city or
state They are needed sometimes,
and this kind OF patriotism cannot be
too highly commended. But the man
who, lives for his city and state every
day is the man the country needs.
True patriotism does not abide alone
in the roar OF cannon. and the din
and clash of arms. but In the every
.sday,duties of civic life as we'll; There
EMaE be as much patriotism in giving
cne's time to the betterment Of civic
conditions, and the election of good
men to office, and in purifying the
ballot as in bearing ones breast to
the bullets of the enemy. The pa
triotism Of peace is often more neces-
sary than the patriotism of war, for
history shows that where one gov
eminent has been destroyed by wars.
pestilence and all other calamities
combined, corruption in times of peace
has undermined score.
How can one live for his city or
state you ask? There never was a
time when the need of patriotic men
in public affairs was greater than
now. we need more men actuated
alone by the public good and fewer
of those who are in politics for rev.
enue only. do not refer to those in
public Office alone, for one does not
have to hold public Office to serve
his country. 1t Is Just as essential to
good government for private citizens
TO discharge the civic responsibility
resting upon them as 1t is for the
faithful carrying out of official duties
in the public service. The people can
overthrow civic evils whenever they
want to, and get just as good govern
nent as they deserve or as bad as
they permit it to become.
n government anywhere neglects
the people 1t is because the people
first neglect the government. The
law abiding people are in the majority,
and there is hardly a community In
this country of which this cannot be
said. They are usually quiet though,
while the lawless are so vociferous as
to deceive many as to their number
A majority of the people are honest
and want good government, but do not
4 as rule, work for it, while the minor
ity are perniciously active all the
time. The lawless stand on the street
and talk for their side, while the law
abiding are timid and unobtrusive. A
dozen law breakers can make more
noise than five hundred law abiding
X citizens, but they do not count fol
much against the united efforts OF the
{ law abiding. They are always active
however while the average good clti
zen becomes active only occasionally
They surround an official and sing hin
the siren song Of the good politics o
serving him instead of the public. /
is always easier for an official t
serve the gang" instead OF SERVING
the people. Unless the official b
strong he will be led astray by thel
alluring promises.
When the lawless get bad mai
in office they support him in all tn
evil that he does; hut when the Law
abiding get man in Office too oftel
they are ready to criticize him. an
leave him to fight The battles withou
their active aid. That is the trouble
Good men are divided and bad me-
are united. If good citizens could onl
be induced to join In patriotic endea,
or before the election and stay joine
after the election, the forces OF erro
would be vanquished like evil spirit
at the dawn of day.
A government is good in proportio
as the average morality Of the az
erage individual is aggressive, and