The citizen. [volume] (Berea, Ky.) 1899-1958, 1916-06-29
Vecatiosal Column
GOOD CITIZENSHIP
Nv Maud o. Down IN

By Maud o. Bowmss
A foreign woman marrying q
United states citizen becomes q
citizen according to a federal statute,
and foreign married woman, whose
husband IL an alien, may he natural
ized without his consent. Special
privileges In the matter ~ natural
ization are accorded to aliens who
enlist in the armed forces Of the
United States, or serve "a seamen in
the mercantile marine.
What is a good citizen and what
are his aualities9 The personal char
acter and quality Of our citizens con
/ troll 10 a great extent the personal
character and quality Of our nation.
So the first duty ~ an American
citizen Is 10 render 10 his country
the service ~ an honest, clean, in
dustrious. private life. The world
is not asking who the producer Is,
but what kind of man the citizen Of
the future will be. 10 Is every mans
duty 10 obtain the fullest develop
ment along alb lines pertaining 10
perfect manhood. Every one cannot
hold an office but he can make a real
true man Of himself. What the coun-
try needs is men and women who
have high ideals and live blameiess
lives and will do all in their power
for their country.
But something more Is needed TO
make a good citizen. and that Is edu-
cation. The good citizen must be
educated 10 understand the difficult
problems Of government. He must
know the needs OF his community.
and how 10 meet them. He should b
well read and up-to-date ON the lead
ing subjects Of the day. He should
be- scientious man. He must
use his influence 10 get the best men
in Office and use his own vote in
carrying this out.
Every citizen has certain rights
that are valuable 10 him. An impor-
tant one is his protection. Wher-
ever a citizen may go. it may be
with feeling Of safety for he knows
that he il citizen Of country
whose government will protect his
life. property and liberty.
Another right that is priced is the
privilege 81 voting. This is an Of
fee to which every one may belong.
II is a way in which man can con-
tribute TO his country, his own per-
son. his own help in the affairs Of
the government. After this, he must
take his part in the conduct Of the
state. He can do this best thru a
party. A party is but an association
OF men who, agreeing TO what Is best
for the republic. try TO secure II by
combined effort. Then comes the
question. what shall a good citizen
do in the way Of holding political Of
flce9" He should never urge his own
desires upon men. or make claims
for an Office on his fellow citizens.
n his fellow citizens feel that he is
the man who will MI the Office bet
ter than any one else: and II they
need his aid in any field OF public
service. he should obey that call. He
should not disobey because Of his
belief that he is not the man for the
Office. He can be no Judge OF that. n
il his duty 10 his country. He must
do his duty. He should love his
country and pursue ends that he be-
lieves 10 be his country's and his
Gods He should never refrain from
expressing a righteous protest
against tyranny and injustice.
Good citizenship is good govern
ment. In community where there
is a high standard Of citizenship
there are good schools and we'll paid
teachers. Improvement is seen every
where. There are better homes. bet
ter roads. better farms, cleaner
streets. and above everything. a bet
ter type Of people. What will result
in small community will result in
state and what will result in
state will result in a nation.
Where there is good citizenship
there is good government; where
there is good government there will
be an everlasting nation.