Evening journal., 1916-05-27

VINO presided over the dedication
exercises.
will serve as court house and homo Of
local government But we also feel
the spirit that is working for advance
ment and Improvement throughout
our State. and in a larger sense, there
fore. we dedicate our thoughts and ef-
forts to the fostering Of that spirit
wherever il may he
THE people. as a rule. are not un-
willing TO contribute Of their means to
the promotion of a good cause. any
cause that is helpful to the young. or
10 older persons unfortunate through
no fault of their own. They are not
opposed 10 the expenditure Of the pub
lie money for better education and
government, provided II Is honestly
and wisely made. The thing they do
insist upon. and rightfully. is thar the
money they contribute i'm the way Of
taxes shall he used purely for the pub
lie good. and in no sense and to no
extent for the benefit of any party or
! individual
EFT is not my purpose TO narrate the
history Of the city and county. or even
OF the buildings that this one is in
tended to suDersede. Even If had the
inclination and ability. my limited
time would make such a performance
\ impossible. Such historical facts
would be interesting no doubt to a few
in this audience. but they can he
readily gathered In the main. from the
histories that have been written of
the State. The one thing that has
been impressed upon me in connection
with this occasion is that the exer-
cises should be brief. and | must.
therefore. make my remarks conform
10 that injunction.
Public Service Topic.
"If have any particular subject for
my remarks IL may he called Public
, Service: and il seems to me there is
I none that is more appropriate or
, timely.
4 81 ann not one Of those persons who
in season and out of season persist in
crtcising and condcmnng our public
o servants. And ! do not believe that all
of the bad things said about them are
4 true anyway. They doubtless have their
e ANNAArs anu NNANiN ANhAA iANiAANAANNHs Nht
: thcy are seldom guilty of every crime
! charged against them The truth is
! that public opinion is not always right
!, and it often indicts without evidence
I, and condemns without cause or mercy
!. There is a class of people. and a larg,
one. who are naturally suspicious. They
. feel very sure their own conduct is
!. above reproach. hut cannot believe thai
/. others are equally honest. They will as
sert most positively that a wrong ha,
A been done. when they do not know it an,
!. could not possibly prove il. They usu
|. ally think they are getting the worst o.
p the bargain. and IL is almost always
/ thought without knowledge.
/. "In like manner a great many people
+ are quite certain that public officials. al
, a rule, are false 10 their trust. They
I are not able 70 understand that such al
official can be actuatcd by a higher an'
better motive than his own personal in
Y terest Apparently they cannot compre
. hend why a man in public office will no
{ wrongfuly put money in his purse If h
S has the opportunity.
y Public Servants Generally True.
I 81 do not mean to convey the impress
r sion that public servants are more hon
est lihN NlutI ltNIits hht \ hN soy tAiN J
are at least as good as the average
4 SOME of them are ayaricious and som'
= are grafters, but as n rule they are tru'
e to their trust. alive 10 the public inter
il est, and undeserving Of the condemna
.- tion visited upon them.
II I'm addition 10 the personal wrenl
4 done 20 the servant by unjust and un
is reasoning abuse. there is a wider an,
n moro general wrong done 20 the public.
"Niany good citizens. and such a.
n could render splendid service, are de
,r terred from accepting office because o.
=, the fear Of unjust charges which the,
know TO be sometimes indiscriminstel,
made. No man wants TO put himself II
" a position where he win be a target fo
q. cruel attack when his only thought o.
40 purpose IL the promotion Of the publi
welfare No one ought 20 charge ma,
with dereliction in Office unless M
Sc knows what he saws is true. This is ST
at obvious that 1t seems like a ussles