Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1913-04-08
Cannot TRY" the Communities.


pleasing personality Of the official
that must be considered, but the com.
munity itself Some cities would &C
to perdition, post haste. We're they not
restrained by the sanity of their
neighbors in the same county or State
Such community becomes the victim
of vicious influences which find asy-
lum there-men who are satisfied with
nothing less than their own concep-
ton Of a good time" and to reap
financial reward from the misfortunes
OF others.
When such men can gain control of
O. community by the election OF offl-
GERS who will hear their ineessant
and loud demand for personal liber-
ty'' and who fails to hear the feeble
and widely separated remonstrances
of those who love law and order and
purity, that community Is on a posi-
tive and rapid down grade And il is
more than ever in danger, if the man
elected by the clamor of those who
stand eyer at his elbow is good
fellow If he is kindly. affable, cour-
teous. honest in his business deals and
generous in church and charity, he will
make few enemies and those who are
opposed to his Interpretation of Off
cial duty. are likely half hcartcdly, TO
support his candidacy because he is a
good man.
Evil grows under such officials and
those who promote the evil shout that
it is the sentiment of the people
1t is NJ such thing. The loud
mouthed always have the ear of the
officials who will listen. The better
element let's things go by default ra-
Their than live in an eternal row. and
be daily denounced as hypocrits,
fanatics, liars" etc.
The good" man as official under
the dominant ton Of evil influences is
most dangerous of all Good fell
lows have ruined thousands Of com
munities and millions of homes.
OF course the communities are to
blame, There is ne DENYING tlidt. BIT
communities are not on trial before
the Maine Legislature, and there is no
way to remove them from their evil
tendencies. but by laws made by all
the people and ENFORCED.
We have no grudge against Balion
or Moulton or Emerson or Lowe or
any other official But there is way
to get at officials who have no regard
for the oath prescribed by all the
people and by them accepted before
election as patriotic and holy. We
cannot spank communities, but We
can REBUKE them by removal Of
officers whom they tolerate at the de-
mand Of those who oppose all re-
straint.
Some officials are led into forgetting
the meaning OF their oaths by mistak-
ing the voice Of those who are ever at
pie We believe that Of that type of
officials are some If not all OF those
who are now being tried by the Leg
islature-not wilfully wicked men, but
men who have believed the Pattan-
gan.Dayis- Plaisted claim that the
Sentiment Of The people is against
the law"
The only Sentiment" such officers
ever really understand is the senti-
ment that clamors loudest and. day
and night. year in and out, is always
clamoring.
We wonder how many of our read
ers ever thought that many good
citizens never lift Their voices
AGAINST anything. however fragrant.
because they cannot afford to offend
those who take thu other side
Some men in opposing an acknowl-
edged evil go SO far around in apology
70 the evil itself that their endeavor
is fiat nonsense The point is hand
Somely brought out in an editorial ut
terance of last weeks Youth Com
panion, as follows:
~ CAN'T AFFORD"
How often you hear the expression,
but with what different meanings!
And yet there are only two ways in
which men use il.
~ should like to subscribe for more
magazines, but can't afford t." The
Tsmark tells Of self denial, and the
fine dignity that puts honor and in
dependence ahead of even legitimate
pleasures. II throws light on charac
ter, helps you to know what manner
Of man it is that speaks.
II should like to help the cause, but
can't afford to offend those who take
the other side" Does not that re-
mark also throw light on character?
This man is not thinking Of self
denial. but Of self-indulecnce. How
shall he best shape his policy to bene-