Weekly independent. [volume] (Elko, Nev.) 1887-1914, 1911-03-10


II is not enough to be merely
honest, the good citizens should be
aggressive in his opposition to
graft and corruption. Law
breakers have nothing to fear from
passive opposition. but they must
yield to active and aggressive
fighters. We need more fighters
in the army of peace. We must
fight for everything that is worth
having, We must fight against every
thing bad. The farmer must not
only be personally opposed to
weeds, but he must cut them down
and make an active warfare against
them, or his crops will be ruined.
In governmental affairs the same
relations exist between good and
evil as between the useful grain
that must be sown and cared for.
and worthless thistles and weeds
that will spring up of their own
accord anywhere. A government
neglected will TO more bCccn c
good than a neglected field will
grow corn and wheat.
There are no necessary evils in
government. 1t is the abuses Of
government about which all good
citizens have a right to complain.
Those who have profted by the
abuses are usually the loudest in
the denunciation of those who point
out abuses in public affairs.
While the people are to blame
where public abuses exist. officials
who wink at the violation Of the
law are ncvertt ,lCss Uh3llC.
Good government depends more
upon the man BEND the law than
upon the law itself. The law i
merely the weapon for officials to
use. and without officials laws
would be as useless as cannon in
war without men. Wien an official
takes an oath to enforce a law. he
has no right to violate the oath,
and excuse the non-cnforccment
of certain laws because they are.
or seem to he unpopular Senti-
ment may he against the enforce
ment Ct some law, but an official
does not take an oath to support
public sentiment. he does take A.
oath to support the law. Publir
sentiment is a difficult thing to
ascertain. Law abiding people arr
quiet while the lawlvss are so
vOcitierous as TO deceive by their
c!amor the facts as to their number.
The only correct way to determine
public sentiment is to be guided by
the expression of the peoples will
through the law making BODY,
When a law is passed il must be
assumed it is what the peoplc
want, and it should be enforced
until the people demand and
secure its repeal. What may
seem to be public sentiment is
often 1.-THE clamor of the lawless
who have a selfish interest in
violating the law.
Civic evils cannot exist wlcr,
the public conscience is aroused.
Nearly all public wrongs grow out
of the indifference of the people.
The exposures recently brought
about in different places would
have come years ago if the people
had been aroused to a true under.
standing of the situation. Had tho
people been alert and had they
taken as much interest in
municipal affairs as they would
have taken in a corporation in
which they we're STOCKHOLDERS, the
disgaccful conditions would never
have occurred.
Much has been done for good
government during the past few
years, but we should not be content
with what has been accomplished
in the fight against evils. There
is plenty of work yet to be done.
States like men should never be
satisfied, but should ever strive
for higher Development. The
man who Is so self satisfied as to
pronounce himelf undesiroUs of
further improvement is likely Ia
be most in need of advancement.
The future Of our government
rests upon the integrity Of the
citizen and upon his activity in
public affair. Good government
must begin at home, in cities and
town and proceed from there to