The Penn's Grove record., 1921-06-17
PROBLEMS OF DEMOCRACY.
What Is It? Why Study It?
Sarah Britton

established is the welfare Of the
people over whom its authority ex-
tends. The foundation Of a democracy
is based upon the spirit of obedience
to law, Of justice, of confidence in
ones fellows, Of service, Of equality.
of respect for leaders and Of cooper
alton.
Let US consider the spirit Of obedi-
enc to law. Government is the ser
want not the master Of people. Shall
the master obey the servant? We
recognize that feeling Of individual re-
sponsibility in managing the affairs
Of the community and obedience are
two essential factors Of good citizen
ship. If you drive a car through a
town at break neck speed, paying no
attention to the speed limits. you are
the person who does not assume any
responsibility for the laws which YOU
as a citizen helped to make, laws
made for your protection. The gov
eminent represents the people and
every person is called upon TO obey the
government, the agency of the COM
munity. William Penn said, Liberty
without obedience is confusion, and
obedience without liberty is slavery"
The spirit of confidence in ones
fellows is also of vital importance 20
the citizen. No community life would
be possible if we did not have conf
dence in each other. When we ride on
the railroad, we have confidence in the
excellence Of the work of those who
made the locomotive, Of those who
laid the rails and built the bridges. of
those who run the train, arrange the
schedule and give the signal. If we
receive government and bank notes in
payment Of our work, we must have
confidence in the promise Of the gov
eminent to pay a certain sum. We
would never put money in the bank if
we did not have confidence in the bank
and the government and laws behind
it.
OF all these fundamental principles
of democracy surely the spirit Of CO.
operation is most essential. Co
operation is the ideal of democratic
government. If cooperation did not
exist disorganization would result.
We must be taught how to Cooperate,
how to work together. In problems
Of Democracy we have learned not
only to appreciate the spirit Of CO.
operation but how it may be applied
in u own community. Newark. y.
j., is solving the problem of co-opera-
ton in the community through the
public library. In that city the public
library has co-opeTated with the
school authorities in gathering and
publishing a large amount of material
relating to the civic life and develop
ment of Newark. This shows how
effective this subject must be and how
interested the individuals Of Newark
are in their city life.
"Problems of Democracy teaches
US most Of all that every privilege
t carries a responsibility. A fifty pei
: cent citizen studies the ideals OF
American Democracy and appreciates
! the privileges offered. A n hundred
per cent citizen not only studies those
/ ideals but also makes practical use
: of them by applying them to the solu-
ton of the national and community
t problems. He recognizes his response
| biIity as we'll as enjoys his privileges,
| Our duties as citizens of the COM
:, munity are innumerable, if we
are enthusiastic citizens to build
our community on the democratic
|, ideals. Each individual voter should
! take an active part in the political
economic and social affairs of the
community. In u own town it Is
{, the duty of every citizen to see that
trustworthy, efficient, morally good
: men enter office in order to bring the
best results to the community. II
the office holder seems adequately
t qualified before they enter office then
! fail. get him out. The tax payer
: expects to have protection and conve-
) nience for his money. If he does not
t it is his own fault.
: Our appreciation of civic beauty Is
/, developed by Problems of Democracy
What are you doing toward the civic
. beauty of your community? Civic
; beauty is one phase of community life
in which each individual may partici-
pate. A person who is careless about
the + of his home is also
careless about the rest of the COM
munity. No n enjoys looking at an
unsightly home. Neatness and order
are essential for beauty. Keep youl
grass cut, plant flowers and vines to
take that barren look away from your
home. What is more pleasant than a
street lined with beautiful trees. But
{ trees UdN6 tll6llllCSs -4O44 -
down sometimes necessarily, more
often not in order to make way for So
called Improvements. We do not take
sufficient care and pride in u COM
munity spirit. The planting of trees
on Arbor Day is an opportunity for
an impressive lesson in citizenship.
Do you still ask why study Prob
lens of Democracy? Why the law
makers of New Jersey elected by you
compelled the 10000 High School
Juniors and Seniors to add this sub
iect to the curriculum? The founda-
ton of democracy is education, one OF
Americas dearest ideals. Until dem
ocracy is made clear in u minds, we
cannot solve wisely the problem of
educating children. We have been
irving to solve that problem as the
$50 per year spent on each of the
thousands of High School pupils IN the
United States shows. Yet we still say
~ ,rran+ mood of America TODAY is