The united American : a magazine of good citizenchip., June 01, 1926, Page 17, Image 17

Page Seventeen
THE UNITED AMERICAN
June 1926
THE MAKING OF AMERICAN CITIZENS
THE COMMONWEALTH OF OREGON.
(Continued from Page Eight)
(Continued from Page Nine)
ness of factions which had nearly rent the country
asunder during his administration and which had
brought to France during the same time so much of
sorrow and bloodshed. This led him to urge that his
people always have respect for varying opinions, al­
ways hold an open mind toward the thinking of men
of different viewpoints. How fitting would such ad­
monishment be today. We have many citizens who
hate other citizens because of difference in religion
or politics or nationality. This is un-American. Such
hatreds if held by a majority of our people would
soon undermine and destroy our country.
He admonished his people also to take care in
their selection of men. Such care is of even greater
importance today. Many men are elected to office
whose service is for self rather than country. They
take advantage of their positions to make money for
themselves and their friends and neglect to serve
their country honestly and well. Such officers do
much harm to our country. It is the duty of every
citizen to make sure that he votes for none for any
office who is not faithful and capable.
He urged that the public credit be cherished. This
he would do by cultivating the arts of peace and
thus avoiding the occasion for expense. He would do
away with the danger of war by preparing for such
danger in the time of peace. He would as fast as
possible pay the debts of the country. Having been
through a long and bitter war, he hated war; having
been successful in his own business by being thrifty,
he felt that the nation should follow the same plan.
It was by carrying out these teachings that he placed
the public credit of the country upon its feet.
He urged that good faith and justice be observed
toward all nations and that peace and harmony be
always cultivated. He advised against permanent al­
liances with any foreign nation. To understand why
he gave this advice we must remember that the
governments of Europe were then very different
from our own, that they were engaged in a bitter,
selfish warfare, and that they were using all their
influence with America to lead her to join in their
struggles. Washington felt that we should keep out
of their troubles and that the best way to do so was to
avoid entering into alliances with them. It is prob­
able that the advice is still good. Alliances to preserve
the peace of the world such as the League of Nations
may often work out for the best interests of peace,
but alliances for purely selfish purposes are always to
be avoided. They are contrary to the spirit of
America.
Thus our first great statesman admonished his
people. They were to preserve the fundamental law,
they were to maintain the unity of the nation, they
were to avoid intolerance and narrowness, they were
to select as their officers only good men, they were to
cherish the national credit, and they were to observe
good faith and justice toward all other nations.
Ought not America to do the same today? Ought
not the citizens of America to see that her policies
are always based on the same principles of justice
and honor?
In case of indictment, the accused person is
brought before the circuit court for trial, where, if
he has not the money to employ an attorney to de­
fend him, one must be provided at the expense of the
county.
These are the courts of Oregon. Upon them, the
citizens of the state depend for the protection of
their lives and property; upon them rests the re­
sponsibility of enforcing law. When the courts fail to
do these things, when prosecuting attorneys do not
enforce the laws and juries do not convict, our govern­
ment is falling down in its greatest obligation. The
responsibility rests largely upon the citizens. If
they elect to office only brave, honest men, do jury
service and give evidence against law-breakers, attend
court and give their backing to their officers of the
law, order will be maintained and justice will be done.
The finger of shame has been pointed many times
of recent years at Chicago. The disgraceful condi­
tion of disrespect for law that is said to exist in that
city, is due wholly to the fact that crime is unpunished.
It is obvious that a majority of her citizens are in­
different to their civic duties. As long as such a con­
dition prevails, there will be in that city a great deal
of murder, thievery, disorder, drunkenness. When
her citizens wake to a deeper appreciation of what
citizenship means, this condition will be removed.
There is no better test of the good citizen than
his activity in upholding the courts of justice.
America will endure as a nation only as long as ma­
jority of her citizens are law-respecting, law-abiding
men and women.
Colors by Munse» Color St
IT ISN’T THE TOWN —IT’S YOU!
Anon.
If you want to be in the kind of a town
Like the kind of a town that you like,
You need not slip your clothes in a grip
And start on a long, long hike;
You’ll only find what you left behind,
For there’s nothing that’s really new;
It’s a knock at yourself when you knock your tew»
It isn’t the town — it’s You.
Real towns are not made by men afraid
Lest somebody, else gets ahead;
When everyone works and nobody shirks,
You can raise a town from the dead;
And if, while you’re making your personal stake
Your Neighbor can make one too,
Your town will be what you want to see —
It isn’t the town — it’s You.
TO A WOOD VIOLET
By JOHN BANISTER TABB
In this secluded shrine,
0 miracle of grace,
No mortal eye but mine
Hath looked upon thy face.
No shadow but mine own
Hath screened thee from the sight
Of Heaven, whose love alone
Hath led me to thy light.
Whereof—as shade to shade
Is wedded in the sun—
A moment’s glance hath made
Our souls forever one.