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 Local Self -Government. 261

ring ; and in practice, — and in justice, hinderance ; and it would be wrong in too, — a town has no more the right of the central authority to permit a con- self-government than has a person a tinuance, due regard being given to the rio-ht to do as he pleases regardless of precedent to be established, people about him. While this position is tacitly held by

Indeed, the right of self-government most men at the very moment when

is much the same, whether personal or they are insisting upon " the sacred

municipal. It is right that both the principle of local democracies ; " while

person and the town should do what is no town can put its finger upon a cer-

for the good of the one and of the tain class of acts (either its control

whole. It is their duty to do these of roads, or fire apparatus, or sanitary

right things. Doing them better than measures, or schools, or its poor), and

they can be done othenvise, it is their say : " Here I am sovereign ; here I

right that they should be protected in a have absolute power, and here you have

continuance of their action. But their no right to enter," — yet it is in the

right to protection is a consequence of power of any town to establish a strong

their fitness and purpose to act for their presumptive right to self-government ;

OUT! good and for the good of the com- and here is where the worth of local

munity. If the self-government of a democracies can be most thoroughly

town were such that justice were denied demonstrated. So long as the towns

to the weak within its borders, if there manage any department of government

were systematic persecution of any class better for the good of the whole people

by vexatious by-laws, or if there were than it can be managed by the central

chronic mismanagement and confusion, authority, just so long it is right that they

there would clearly be no right inherent should have the management. Were it

in the town to continue such a mockery certain that insane people could be best

of government. Its continuance would cared for by institutions under town

re-act to the injury of neighboring mu- management, then the State would need

nicipalities ; and the larger community to provide for only those persons who

would have the right and duty to inter- have no settlement. Were there no

fere, and restore a proper observance doubt that the towois neglected their

of justice and good order. poor shamefully, from some fault in their

The issue needs only to be clearly government which they would not rem-

presented to show that there is no right edy, and that the State would do better

of local self-government apart from the for the unfortunates, then it would be

ability to meet well the responsibility right to take from towns the oversight

of governing efficiently. This ability of their poor.

varies with the intelligence and political Now, good government in a town is

activity of the towns ; but the practice best obtained by thorough participa-

of local self-government is undoubtedly tion in its affairs by all its citizens,

a matter of expediency, and not a matter That constant interest in public busi-

of right. Given an efficient, upright ness which brings all the voters to the

local government, it is right that it polls ; that discussion in town meeting

should continue. Given a local gov- in which every man may state his

emment weak and corrupt, it is clearly opinions ; that exposure to question and

not right that it should exist without ridicule which' only the right side of

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