The Lynden tribune. [volume] (Lynden, Wash.) 1908-current, 1914-01-01
statement made by Miss Rhoda Ev-
ans, telephone operator.
CHRISTIAN CITIZENSHIP
(By =. d. Pangborn.)

Ours is a government by affirm
alton. The constitution of the un-
tied States which in the last analy-
sis is the government is vitalized
by and founded upon the affirma-
tion. the political Rock of Ages,
the eternal verify, that all men are
and of right ought to be equal,
free and independent. The logical
sequence of this automatic truth is
IL government of, for and by the
people popular sovereignty, gov
ernment by majorities.
Theoretically, our government
rests on persons, human rights, and
public opinion. In practical opera
tion at the present stage of polit-
ical development, it rests upon pro-
perty and self-interest. Under our
present scheme of government the
citizen is the vital, indispensable
factor for the citizen represents.
authority, and without authority
there can be no government. The
The form of government depends up
on where the authority is lodged.
Whether an autocracy, limited mon
archy, constitutional monarchy, or
republic. Under representative
form of government the franchise
is the focal point at which the pol
itical unit performs the highest and
most sacred functions of the citi-
zen by giving authoritative md
concrete expression to his opinion
of men and measures. All the an
tecedent acts, the development of
sentiment, the gradual crystalliza-
tion of public opinion, are cumula-
i've, finding their logical climax
and expression at the ballot box,
and are. therefore, of vital and par
amount Importance. Upon the in
vestiture of the minor or the alien
with the rights and functions of
citizenship he surrenders certain
natural rights, and in return there
for is invested with certain rights
in possession of which he is pro-
tected by constitutional guarantees
written in the constitution. Among
these rights may be named the right
of free speech, the right of private
Judgment, and the inalienable right
to life, liberty and the pursuit of
happiness. Among the vested
rights may be named the right of
petition and redress, the right to
vote and hold office. the right of
assembly and the right of domicile.
and to the maintenance of these sa-
cred rights all the force of the gov
ernment, moral and material, is
pledged. In return, the citizen is
called upon to bear the burden of
taxation, to bear arms in suppress
ion of internecine foe or to repel
foreign invader.
Certain essential attributes of
citizenship growing out of the citi-
zen's relationship to his fellOw-cit-
izen and the federal government are
rights and privileges, duties, respon-
sibilities, and the clear and ade-
quate conception which the citizen
gets of the exalted and sacred ma
ture of these rights and privileges
will determine the measure of his
faithfulness in the discharge of
his civic duties. At this point In
the development of his government
tai functions and the discharge of
his civic duties, he is lifted to
higher plane of thought and ac-
tion and enters the realm of Chris
tian Citizenship, where patriotism
and principle take precedence of
pelf and preferment.
What does Christian Citizenship
mean? 1t means the practical ap-
ciples of Christianity to government
tai affairs. 1t means the substitu-
ton of pure and lofty civic ideals
for the low and false standard of
political ethics that prevails to-
day. 1t means that human law
will stand for the same sacred
principles of Righteousness and
Truth and Justice as Divine Law.
the exalted prototype from which
it derives it's authority.
1t means that the irresistible fl
bre of truth will be turned through
the filthy political Augean stables.
cleansing them of their foulness,
1t will mean that the dirty pool of
politics will be transformed into y
pool of Bethesda, its waters charg-
ed with virtue for the healing Of
the nations. 1t means that Love,
the great master motive of the un-
iverse, rather than greed and self
isbness will be the inspiring and
ruling motive in law, legislation
and government. Every lawyer
will plead not only for justice, but
likewise for mercy. Every court
and jury will be eager to forgive
and help the delinquent.
Christian Citizenship would have a
clear conception of the fact that the
highest and noblest function of
govnerment is to promote the well
fare of the people, Intellectually.
socially, morally and economically;
that righteousness exalteth ma
tion, and that sin is reproach to
any people; citizenship that takes
Holy Writ as the chart, compass
and log book by which to sail the
ship of state over uncharted and
tempestuOus seas; citizenship
that scouts the spceious and dam
gerous doctrine of expediency as