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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