Elko independent. [volume] (Elko, Nev.) 1915-current, 1917-09-17
NEED OF EDUCATION IN CITIZENSHIP
for the office?

that the sensational color OF their
pages is because the people demand
1t, and that a paper cannot be any
better than that demanded by the peo
pie which 1t serves. Most OF our poll.
ticians. in talking to the people OF to-
day, refer to nothing but nostrums
and "get.cured-quick" panaceas. They
insult the dignity of the voter by feed.
ing him fulsome praise, and insult his
intelligence by telling him he has the
greatest government possible of at.
tainment. Does this come from the
fact that the politician. like the news.
paper, gives his patrons what they
want? What has become OF the states.
men OF the country? Clay. Webster.
Calhoun, Hayne and others dared to
stand before the people and tell them
where they were wrong, and tell them
what they ought to do and point out
to them their responsibilities. Why
have we to listen to the driveling
idiocy OF the "get-rich-quick-W -Walling.
ford votegetter" instead of a man who
comes to point out TO us the dangers.
and teach us how to avoid them? Is
il true that we have lost our breed OF
statesmen because the diet they offer
ed the voter was too strong for his
digestion? Have we to put up with
lot OF office-seeking, self-serving poll.
ticians in their place? Do the people
want nothing better than this? And
II the people want nothing better. is
IL not time the thoughtful men of
the country rouse themselves and
teach citizenship TO be a sacred duty,
and voting TO be an obligation OF
which each citizen must discharge
himself il he intends to protect his
liberties?
To meet this situation. If our gov.
eminent is to live, ii is necessary for
the public to realize that citizenship
and government is the most important
study which any pupil has in all OF
our institutions of education. From
the primary grade of the public school.
where he should be taught about the
flag with its story. and the story of our
great men. to the last year in col.
lege where he can be taught taxation.
and to discuss 1t in all of its various
ramifications, every study should be
subordinated where necessary TO that
of citizenship and government. When
he is graduated. and when he is given
his degree. he should be able TO tell
why he is proud of being an American,
and be able to compare his govern.
ment and it's benefits with those of
Switzerland or San Marino of the pres.
ent day, and with the governments
which grew out of the love Of liberty
in ancient times. He should know why
each government of liberty loving peo.
pie has failed, and what steps had
been taken to prevent our govern.
ment from failing in the same way. He
should know the plan of government
|
of our Constitution, and he should
know all of the changes that have oc
CURED in our plan Of government
since, and what effect the changes
have had upon the liberties of the
people, and what the effect in tht
future is likely TO be. He should know
what relations and obligations his ma
tion has to others in time OF wal
both neutral and belligerent II
should know what he owes his go,
crnment. and what his government
owes him. He should know what trou
BILE this country has had in the pas
from aliens and seditious conduct, ant
how the country had sought TO NEE
1t, and the results thereof, so that h
would know how to meet intelligently
conditions that confront us today.
In assuming to be sovereigns. We
like many OF the individual sovereign
of royalty. assume to be able to taxi
the pleasures OF the sovereign withou
, his responsibilities. We can no mor'
take one and leave the other than
king can do so; and just so certainl!
, as we fail to recognize our obligations
lust so certain will we suffer as soy
ereigns of history have suffered, an,
, our government will go into oblivion
, Is II too much to ask that citizens VIII,
, love their country will Join in n dc
, mand that the course outlined in on
4 educational institutions teach citizen
ship, and send our voters TO the poll
Z equipped with the necessary know
. edge to vote intelligently upon ques
4 tions which are presented to them?
Q II the citizens who read this pape
r agree with the proposition that cit
I. zenship and government should b
e taught in the schools, II will not hel
Q the situation in the least to lay tn
!. paper down and leave George" to d
: Il. George" will not do II. Our edt
n cational department.. like the newl
s paper and the politician. will only n