The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1910-04-26
THE PEOPLES FORUM
What Censitutes a Good Citizen.
: OF The virginiani

Editor OF The virginani
sir think some of us labor under q wrong anu
preston as to what the requirements OF good and
true sisisen In the highest and nob'esr sense
When a Is quiet. inorensive attends strictly &c
his business his just debts and 10 klnd and
neighberly the most Of us say he Is good cit'Ken
which Is true to a great extent. and without the
above mentioned qualities he cannot be one. We
sometimes look at an old gray haired man. who has
provided for his own household comfortably ana
paid his debts and say he Is a good citx@n- when
In reality he has spent life Of selfshness and 'reed
ulatins his thousands and ten OF Thousands of
dollars and with one foot In the grave stu grasping
aitruism having entered his makeup. Has his
life been success and In he a good citizen In the
failure as to an impression on tho world for good
he has done nothing but make money and 10 pitt
viii lose nothing, and not many tears win be shed
He has gotten ali he could out OF the world and
lIfei Self greed and ayarioe are dangerous masters
TO be useful and loyal citizen in the highest sense
above mentioned. We should take abiding In
terest In oil things pertaining to the welfare and
Sunday schools and worthy charities. We should DC
willing to give our time and money. IL need be, IN
securing good and true men of high Christian char
acters to I'LL all offices OF trust municipal county
and state-men that incorruptihle and stand for
the highest and best things In civic life
is not a pleasant thing TO be active in politics
worker, candidate for Office out II we neg
tcians to make our laws and spend our pubic fuhos
We neeG men who respect their own characters, as
and all true men should wake up to their outy aorg
this line. forbid that should ever have such
corrupt politics In Virginia Is now being Onearthed
in Pennsylvania and New York We should take an
active interest in churches and Sunday schools
and work INCREASINGLY to build them up and enlarge
usefulness they being the foundation stones On
which the higher civilization OF our Fellows ana
the cultivation of Christian graces such kind
ness. charity and brotherly love. Those WHO are
capable. when called upon, should not shrink from
leadership, despite criticism OF their acts as we can
do nothing without wise and consecratod leaders III
and honest, standing only for the truth
and right your critics must respect your purposes
and character.
coed citizenship is never attained in ite highest
and best sense. in humble opinion, when we draw
the line at own door and refuse to spend and be
spent in the unceasing warfare for the elevation or
mankind, the protection of society and the desrue-
ton of all sources of evil We should bold
and manly course along this line, fully realizing In
so doing must antagonize some people who are
not sympathy with higher aims and purposes,
but should try to win them by kindness and love
We debt society, by living the life Of goCd
and true citizen forgetting ourselves in the fight for
the advancement of Christ's kingdom on earth and
civic righteousness in all of its phases What Is more
beautiful than life CT real service to country?
Standing for all that Is best and purest and when
lay down the burdens of life and passing
I through the valley of DEATH what comfort and con-
ISOLATION it with be to look back past lives,
feeling that have done best and that we have
left impress for good and have not lived IN
vain. IT. S. BARBOUR