The Columbia herald. [volume] (Columbia, Tenn.) 18??-1935, 1916-06-02
FINE DEFINITION Of
GOOD CITIZENSHIP
BY MISS DUGGER
ESSAY THAT WON THE GOLD
MEDAL GIVEN BY THE
HERALD.
FROM A LIST OF over SIXTY
Elements That Are Necessary To Make
The Citizen Who is a Benefit to He
country-His Duty in Various Walks
OF Life.

In accordance with its custom, The
Herald today publishes the essay that
won its gold medal for the best sub.
mitted by pupil of the County High
school. This essay was one of sixty
originally submitted. From the first
list nine were adjudged of excellence
and sent away to be finally passed
puon. The final award was to Miss
Harriet Digger, of the Fifth district.
Her essay follows:
"Good Citizenship"
When We say We are citizens what
do we mean An Encouragement of
the United States said, This phrase,
citizen of the United States, without
addition or qualification, means neither
more nor less than a member Of the
nation" In other words, a citizen, In
the most general sense, is an individual
member of political society or state;
one who owes allegiance to, and may
lawfully demand protection from the
government. The original meaning Of
the term, denoting person endowed
with certain rights and privileges,
either native or naturalized resident
In a city, free and lawful member
of civic community, has, in America,
become of secondary significance, its
Roman meaning viz: member OF .
free self-governing commonwealth,
having superseded it.
Good citizenship is matter of in
dividualism and is not something afar
off which concerned our forefathers
many years ago, but duty and vir-
tue which comes very close to each
and everyone Of us. There has been
much discussion as to whether or not
good man and a good citizen is one
and the same person. We conclude
that they must be since both have the
same object in view, namely; the
highest welfare and happiness OF the
community in which they live. Both
alike must be true to the laws, princi-
pies and institutions of their country,
for without this characteristic there
can be no good citizenship and good
citizenship is the individual unit Of
good government
Is there community in the United
States today suffering from bad gov
eminent or, in other words, a lack OF
good citizenship, that would not be
completely reformed if each individual
In such community would live in &C
cordance with David's conception OF
an ideal citizen? which is as follows:
HE that walketh uprightly and work
eth righteousness and speaketh the
truth in his heart: he that slandereth
not with his tongue, nor doeth evil to
mis- neighbor: in whose eyes repro
bate is despised, but he honoreth them
that fear the Lord, he that putteth not
out his money to usury, nor taketh re-
ward against the innocent" These
words constitute an epitome of good
citizenship and should be printed in
majestic capitals on the title page OF
every citizens manual.
To my mind there are three essential
factors in ideal citizenship; a. an es.
tablished habitation; (2) devotion to
the welfare of others and CD patriot
ism, or love Of common country
The man who is always on the move
can never make a good citizen. He
must be a home-lover and home
slayer in order to build up the COM
munity life, and he must have a feel
ing of brotherly love toward all his
fellowmen.
Good citizenship Is equivalent to
everyday patriotism" the essence
of which Is the sacrifice Of personal
interest to public welfare. This great
virtue may exist in any place where
individuals are bound together in So
cial groups Demosthenes, speaking to
the Athenians Of their duty as citizens.
more than two thousand years ago,
said: "If you get rid, all Of you, OF
the spirit Of evasion, if each man shall
show himself ready to act whenever
duty calls him and wherever he can
possibly render service to the state; If
you are willing to depend upon no one
but yourselves, and will give up, each
of you, hoping you can remain idle,
while your neighbor does everything
for you, then, l say, you will come to
your own" This advice, like wine
mellowed with age, is applicable to us
today.
An exalted patriotism demands not
only that we love our country devoted
", but that we serve it faithfully. The
highest honors come to him who cares
not to be great except as he saves or