New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1917-10-09
The Development of Good Citizenship
Edohou Of otcr in True Patriotism Should Begin IN r""o"'
Years in The Public Schools
Bu Frederic r. Kellogg

In this epoch Of agitation. important as ~
IA for military preparedness, there IL danger
that two questions o. no less vital ana press
inc importance may be ignored:
DO we as a nation, understand ana prac-
,iso true patriotism in matters otnet 'n""
war; 49,.
II not. how may this defect be remedied
The following is an attemp. to state con-
cisely the essential points involved:
/ Municipal and state governments lana
even the national government IN TINS couh-
try are to-day in many respects suffering
from low ideals of public duty and service
whose definite manifestations are 1ouhu.
among other things, in various forms OF
graft. extravaganza, incapacity and mem
cheney; and. unfortunately, in some instances
in even more serious developments
g 1t is believed that these evils result
principally from two causes:
Cal A lack of general enlightenment and
education concerning the duties OF cltzehs
TO their municipality, state and country.
(b) Slothfulness and neglect on the part Of
J those citizens who are enlightened III the
performance ofstheir known duties.
From these causes follow the nomination,
election and frequently reelection Of UNFIT
men for public Office and lack of due sense
u
charged with governmental authority.
8 The causes last mentioned are really the
effects of greater cause. TO wit, lack OF an
understanding and practice Of true patriot
ism which latter word is too commonly un-
derstood as referring only to periods OF ma
tiona crisis, as in war; instead of to the day
by-day discharge of the duties Of good citl-
zenship in times of peace.
The Duty Of Voting
IL the great bulk of our citizens clearly
perceived the nature and vast Importance OF
the duties imposed upon them by the suffrage
as bearing upon the welfare and progress or
their country and recognized the absolute
necessity of the conscientious and continuous
performance Of these duties, the greatest OF
our national internal menaces would vanish.
4. In the effort to overcome bad conditions
attending our political and civic life many
remedies have been suggested, such as the
initiative. the referendum, tho recall, the
direct primary, the blanket ballot, the short
ballot women's suffrage, etc.
These efforts have been largely directed to
the end of furnishing better means for the
free expression of the popular will.
>. But the efficiency and results of all of
these methods and of all possible kinds of
upon the form or kind Of the machinery, but
upon the existence of an intelligent, educated
and trained popular will which is always
ready to express itself upon issues needing
decision.
6. If such trained intelligence in public
matters exists among our citizens. methods
and forms Of administrative and other public
machinery are not Of controlling Importance.
Unless such condition of enlightenment
exists, no new or modified machinery will
create good government.
7. The inefectiveness of many of these
we'll meant efforts at reform has resulted
from inability to understand that instead OF
making better machinery what is needed is
to make better citizens.
Machinery is but machinery, often more
carefully studied, more fully understood and
more easily rendered ineffective by those for
whose destruction it is intended than utilized
BY those for whose protection it is designed.
8. How can betterment Of our citizens be
effected?
Hope in the Children
As to adults who have grown up in the old
political atmosphere, while improvement can
be and is being made, adequate changes can
hardly be hoped for
AS 10 the cHlIuIeH oI to-udy VINO VIII De
the citizens of tomorrow, great results are
certain if new methods of education be
adopted.
9. While this can and should be done as
far as possible in the home. it Is believed to
be true that unless the country's public and
private schools can be utilized comparative
failure will result.
10. To-day there exists no we'll considered
nationwide system OF school training of the
nature that is Indispensable
Attempts in this direction have been and
are being made in more or less isolated in
stances. the best Of these being the School
Republic plan of self-government which has
been introduced in number of different
schools and Jurisdictions by DR.. Wilson l..