Importance of Active Citizenship

Good government is the particular responsibility of the individual citizen in whom final authority is vested. It will be no higher in its ideals nor just in its administration than the sum of our national character. The first and paramount duty of every citizen is to have a firsthand knowledge of the Constitution of the United States. He should learn the accurate, comprehensive, and masterly statement of the six principles of government as contained in the Preamble, and the plan for setting up and maintaining our representative form of government. It is in this document that individual rights and fundamental duties are set forth. American citizens are stockholders in a great corporation - the Government of the United States. They annually spend three and one-half billion dollars in the cost of government. One citizen out of 13 gainfully employed works for this corporation. Its operation requires understanding, supervision, and skillful management. The citizen is the governor of this Republic through the exercise of his right to vote - the most sacred right of a free people. He selects its rulers and decides its issues. The proper exercise of this right requires honesty and intelligence, and a knowledge concerning the dangerous tendencies that are threatening our republican form of government. He should weigh the merits of both men and issues, feeling himself responsible for the selection of proper persons as the representatives to whom are entrusted the affairs of government. Vote. - To preserve American institutions a bigger and better vote is required - citizens must perform their political duties on election day. The entire electorate must be taught not only to vote but to vote according to principle and informed opinion. Our institutions are endangered and are well worth saving. In the presidential years of 1920 and 1924 scarcely half of the voters of the country went to the polls. In 1926 only 33 per cent of the electorate participated. The ultimate result of such indifference upon a government based upon the principle of the majority is disastrous. In 1928 more than 7.000.000 young citizens became eligible to vote for the first time. While the vote, and the whole vote, should be attracted to the polls, it must be remembered that an unintelligent vote safeguards nothing and is harmful in its effect. Public service. - Many citizens are so engrossed in their personal affairs that they are not willing to devote sufficient time to the business of government, leaving most important matters to be decided by a minority. The functions of citizenship are not confined to the enjoyment of personal rights - they also involve the protection of those rights. Unless the obligations of the individual citizen are fulfilled, our entire governmental structure, with all of its rights and privileges, is endangered. The indifference of individual citizens threatens the destruction of the "blessings of liberty." Opportunity for patriotic service calls for leadership and ability, and too many citizens fail to respond to this obligation. Every citizen should assist in the administration of law and justice by willingness to render jury service - nothing is more imperative. He should bear a proportionate part of the burden of taxation without an attempt at evasion. He should respect the rights of others both by precept and example. He should be willing to assume the duties of any public office to which his fellow citizens may call him. He should be useful and loyal, aiding in all public undertakings through a whole-hearted cooperation for the welfare of all. In every national emergency the people have produced their leader - George Washington, Abraham Lincoln. When diplomacy has failed, as in the World War, the people have "volunteered." Law and order. - The best government is that in which justice is most evenly administered. The better our Government, the more prosperous and contented the people. Every time the citizen assists the administration of justice he makes a material contribution to the welfare of all. Every citizen should observe and respect the law. It is no excuse that if a certain law interferes with his personal habits, desires, or beliefs he should disregard it. Absolute acquiescence in the decisions of the majority when legally expressed is the vital principle of republics. It is your personal responsibility not to contribute to the defeat of justice either by evading the law or consenting to its evasion by others. Statutory laws are presumed to be just and for the benefit of all law-abiding citizens. No greater responsibility rests upon the citizen than to demand just laws and their enforcement. There is nothing more degrading, more destructive in its effect upon personal honor and character, than evasion of law, bribery of officers, or contributing to the delinquency of others. Respect for its authority, compliance with its laws, acquiescence in its measures, are duties imposed by the fundamental maxims of true liberty. The basis of our political systems is the right of the people to make and alter their Constitution and Government. But the Constitution which at any time exists till changed by an explicit and authentic act of the whole people is sacredly obligatory upon all. The very idea of the power and the right of the people to establish government presupposes the duty of every individual to obey the established government. - George Washington - Farewell Address. The highest test of good citizenship is obedience to all laws. We can not develop and keep alive the high sense of civic duty and pride by half-hearted allegiance to the Constitution. There should be no such thing as an oath to support the Constitution with mental reservation. - W. B. Sicaney. The law of the State of Illinois provides that every male person above the age of 18 years must respond to the call of the police officer in securing and apprehending an offender, and provides a penalty for failure to do so. A good citizen will never hesitate to inform an officer of any criminal act of which he has knowledge and to assist in apprehending a criminal and aid the officer in his prosecution. Under the laws of Illinois a person who has knowledge of a crime and conceals it is also a criminal.