Belding banner. (Belding, Mich.) 1889-1918, 1915-04-07

would have demanded his pound OF
I flesh. for he would have known that
he could not get IL without the shed
ding of Christian blood"
In order 10 rise TO this higher class
OF citizenship, we must not only obey
the letter of the law but also the spirit
of the law. A person may be acquit-
ted in the courts and still have done
more wrong than many people who
are serving time often times a man
may be freed because he has been able
10 hire a shrewd lawyer.
The true citizen is one who prac-
tees what he breaches. he is willing
that any one should know him as he
is. and not as he might make them
think he is. He is the same on Mon
day as on Sunday. Such people do
what is right although II may not be
included in the law. There is no law
that says that we shall not laugh at
"A boy who thinks that il is cute To use
profane language. The other day
saw a group Of grammar school boys
and in their midst stood "A younger
boy who was showing the other boys
how well he could swear. He thought
that he was doing something smart
for even high school boys stopped and
laughed. The young boy knew no
better for he had never been taught
any thing else. but the boys who kept
urging him on were certainly not
playing their part as future citizens of
this country. Quite likely We do not
think of the influence that we have on
younger boys. But if we would stop
and think OF the days when we We're
in the lower grades we wouldNremem-
Der how we watched some older fell
low and tried to act as near like him
as possible.
\ good citizen also takes pride in
the appearance of his town or city.
1t may save us a few feet to cut across
a corner, but we forget how much bet
/ ter the corner would look if il We're
green with grass. We do not think
how we should feel if we had tried
for couple of months to start some
grass on the corner only to have il
trampled out. We often throw paper
and other rubbish into the streets
without thinking how IL will look to
the next passerby.
You say that these are but trifies,
/ but there are many more that ] have
not mentioned. Yet the boy who is
most particular about the little things
I is the one who is loyal TO high ideals.
Scientists tell us that the effect OF the
/ tiny flicker of a match never ceases.
/ If we are loyal TO our fellow man we
are loyal citizens of this great repub-
/ lie and we help TO uphold the glory
1t rests with each one Of us what
we shall make of ourselves. We may
say here that all of these things are
right, and then when we so back TO
our homes, forget them. What are
good. thoughts worth If we are not
willing to put them into practice?
/ You say TO yourself, lit matters
not what ! do" but you do not realize
your own greatness for you have never
tried to lead but have always been
! content to follow. We never know
our own worth until we have made a
stand for principle
IT. in our relations with other peo-
pie. we would only obey the Golden
Rule, there would be little doubt of
our good citizenship. If all people
would treat others as they would wish
10 be treated, there would be no more
graft and undetermined dealings. Then
the offices in this country would be
| filled by competent men and not by
I friends of the political boss.