this work public documents, of which a thorough knowledge is important to every American citizen, that he might act understandingly in any movement for their modification, repeal, or maintenance.-AUTHOR.

TRUE

AMERICAN CITIZEN.

CHAPTER I.

RELATION OF INDIVIDUALS ΤΟ GOV

ERNMENT.

THE good or true American Citizen is alive to every duty, both public and private, in all the relations of life. No man can perform the duties of a good citizen without an intelligent understanding of what constitutes these duties. When a man resolves to become a good citizen, he resolves to increase his knowledge, and to throw his whole influence on the side of

right, against wrong. All actions of men may be divided into two classes, the right and the wrong action. The right action.

promotes justice, truth, mercy, temperance, contentment and happiness. The wrong action contributes to injustice, error, intemperance, commotion, crime and misery. If you pursue a certain course, you will throw your influence on the side of evil doers, and you will thus become a drag- a dead weight a pull-back on all those legitimate influences, which are calculated to elevate and bless mankind. If you pursue an opposite course, you will cast your influence with those who are striving to overcome the sinful practices of men, and to elevate all in every relation of life. The true American Citizen will not only desire to promote the happiness of himself and his immediate family, but his neighbors, and the whole community in which he lives. A 'community may consist of a town, county, state or nation. The good of the nationits peace, its prosperity, demand good citizens; as good citizens only will endeavor

to make their community prosperous and happy. But no community can be prosperous and happy which regards not the laws from which prosperity and happiness proceed. As prosperity and happiness are the result of obedience to the laws of our being, neither can the individual nor the community expect happiness and prosperity, which violates these laws.

The good citizen will not only strive to obey these laws himself, but will encourage others to do the same, to the end that the individual members of community may become united in their influence, and by their organized efforts, more effectually discourage wrong actions among men, and promote the good. If men as individual members of community are ignorant and wicked, their organized action will become corrupt and vicious. We often see this principle exemplified in governmental affairs. corrupt community will place corrupt men

A

in power, and the good citizens who may live in that community, are overpowered by the bad, and dishonest men are elevated to places of honor and trust. Yet truth and right are stronger than error and corruption, for, from the beginning of society it was intended by the Ruler of us all, that the intelligent and good, should govern among men, and be the leaders in the administration of civil government. Man was created to be intelligent, upright and happy. And the means given him to promote these ends, are more powerful than the instrument of corruption; and eventually education and right will triumph over ignorance and wrong. The good citizen must, and will have faith in this doctrine, and will avail himself of all the means placed in his power, to advance the best interests of the community and nation in which he lives. We can have no faith in the laws of order, nor the laws of God, unless we have faith