The Northman., May 06, 1920, Image 1

The “Pacific Skandinaven” from Vol. XVII, No. 14.
“The American Scandinavian” from Vol. V, No. 2.
A WEEKLY JOURNAL OF PROGRESS AND GOOD CITIZENSHIP
Number 2.
Portland, Oregon, Thursday, May 6,1920
Volume I.
TO BE MERELY LAW-ABIDING
NOT GOOD CITIZENSHIP
The government of this country is not something separate
and apart from the people. Every man is sovereign as well as
subject and must do his part in making as well as obeying the law.
The citizen who is merely law-abiding is not a good citizen. He is
not even half a citizen. It may not have dawned upon him but he
cuts a sorry figure in the minds of thinking men, just the same. He
is like the man on the camping trip who snoozes in the shade
while the others pitch camp and gather the wood, make the fire,
boil the coffee, fry the bacon and cut the bread, but is first to grab
a plate and kick because things don’t suit him.
In this country every citizen is one of the country and should
do his whole duty, just as the democracy of good fellowship de­
mands out on the camping trip. Every vote kis the same size and
weight, but too many allow others to attend to affairs of govern­
ment and then howl because it is not done to their liking. To be
able to cast a ballot with intelligence and without prejudice is the
duty of every citizen above all things. To vote blindly for or against
any party or measure is little short of criminal. The nobility of this
country is not composed of those who snooze in the shade while
others make camp, as is the case in Europe, but made up of those
who acquit themselves nobly, making their way
on their own resources.
THREE DOLLARS YEARLY
TEN CENTS THE COPY