The Irish standard. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn. ;) 1886-1920, 1910-08-13
GOOD CITIZENSHIP.

GOOD CITIZENSHIP.
Public trust has been betrayed so
often in almost every Office at the
gift of the people that the opinion be-
coming current is that if man holds
office he is, ipso facto to be consid-
cred unreliable until he has proven
his honesty. Public ingratitude, too,
often makes Office holding an unbear-
able burden to those who are serving
without a selfish purpose. The result
is that only such as are seeking dis
tinction or emolument can be in
duced to enter the field while many
men who would be of genuine worth
as public servants look askance at
aldermanic dreams and enter other
fields of activity. If then the people
are served by men who too often have
not the best interest of the public at
heart, the fault lies with the people.
The fact remains, however, that re-
CARELESS of public ingratitude, there
is no office in the gift of the people
that is too insignificant or too great
to be sought after by honest, courag-
eous, manly men. Whether it be a
place on school board or the gov
ernorship of the state it should be
filled by the best man available. Only
in this way is the community doing
Justice to itself.
On the occasion of his seventy sixth
birthday, Cardinal Gibbons urged
young men of good character to take
an active part in public life. By this
means he hopes to see the standard
of citizenship raised and social con-
ditions made better. It is not the
first time that His Eminence has
urged young men to take an active
part in public service and it is not
likely to be the last The suggestion
Is good one and bears repetition.
Holding public office does not ap-
peal to all people. 1t cannot appeal
to those who are sensitive to public
opinion which concerns themselves.
For others it is too full of uncertain
ties. And yet If the best men are not
in public service the privilege of the
franchise is not being properly exer-
cised and one of the most serious
duties implied in citizenship is being
neglected.
But the aversion to public service
is not the only fault that may be at
tributed to some of our best citizens
There is another class of citizens that
do not take enough interest in public
affairs to voice their wishes by ex-
ercising their right to vote. Such neg
ligence is little short of sinfulness
The citizen owes it to the state to
lend what help he can to the better
ment of conditions within it's borders
The ballot intelligently used is one of
the strongest weapons he can WELD in
it's defense.
The frequent exposures of legisla-
tive scandals cannot but have a bad
effect on the morals of the young
people who eagerly absorb sensational
stories. This is one of the ways in
which bad citizenship perpetuates it.
self. 1t can be checked by a proper
use of the ballot and those who
through lack of interest. fail to ex-
ercise their right to vote in order to
prevent disreputable men from get
ting into a position where they can
exert such an influence, are in a de-
gree responsible.
Catholics, by virtue of the tenets
of their religion, ought to be the best
citizens in the country. In their cate
chism they are taught all the clements
of good citizenship. 1t is for them
to realize the obligations that rest
upon them to do their part in making
and administering the laws of the
state. The Jealous Christian is not
satisfied with serving God and obey
ing the Commandments; he wants to
see others doing the same thing and
he does whatever he can to bring
about that condition. So, too, the
conscientious citizen should not be
satisfied simply to avoid betraying
public trust: he should regard it as
one of the most important obligations