Chronicles of Notre Dame du Lac
Edward Sorin, CSC -- Translated by John M. Toohey, CSC, 1895

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1851

pg 155                   3.  Elections to the Office of the Country

                  It has just been stated that the superior of Notre Dame du 
             Lac considered it advantageous to have himself named Postmaster 
             and Supervisor of Public Roads.  Here it may not be out of place 
             to remark that it is important for an institution like Notre Dame 
             du Lac, generally looked upon by Americans with all the prejudice
             of the public against convents, to come into close contact with 
             neighbors, and to take an interest in all that concerns the 
             general good, to show zeal in those matters, and to convince 
             everyone that we are citizens in heart as well as in name.
                  This is a new means, and often the most effectual of all, to 
             prove one's honesty, by keeping exact accounts and by doing 
             justice to all concerned, and thus to secure to the house the 
             confidence of the people, sometimes even to place them under 
             obligations, which will make friends of them.
                  For these reasons F. Sorin lately judged it advisable to 
             present himself with some Brothers at the elections for the office 
             of the country; he has done it only once, and the results only