New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1858-11-05

during fame.
We apprehend thst many Of our fellowcitzen'
squander rare opportunity for observation and
study BY failing TO spend each annual election dsy
in attendance on the polls. With us, 1t Is matter
Of principle and duty to spend that day, go nearly
as may, in getting in as many legal votes for
the right side and keeping cut as msny Illegal ones
for whatever side, as We msy and there Is hardly
another day of the three hundred and sxty-fge
that adds largely TO stock of treasured e1-
perirnce ard food for thought. Here ara . few of
our reflections suggested by our last days wo.k a.
the poll Of our election district
Every drunksrd, gambler, loafer, rowdy, ig-
norrmus, ninny-to their credit Be it said
is sure to be on hand ct every election
and to vote at least once; while the sober,
quiet, intelligent, discerning citizens, who pre-
eminently ought 70 be there, are too apt TO
stay away. They 60 not exactly mean to neglect
their duty TO the public, but they readily find or
make excuses for go doing. This election day is
stormy or threatens to be-, and they do not ike to
go the next is fair, and they have crops that must
be single candidate on the ticket they usually vote
who is dstastelul 10 them, they sre not content to
erase his name, but refuse to vote; even thu fact
that one they wished nominated is not on the ticket,
suffices az an excuse for stay ing away from the
poll. A little liness-some family affection or mis-
fortune-sny thing that be magniiei into an
excuse for Undergraduates. We sent a car
IL
who are not supposed 10 hurt themselves with
oyer-worh, and whom two hours at larthess
would have suficed TO take to the poll, to vote,
and return-but no. they couldn't leave
their work" and the good cause had to do
without their votes. Should the country be plunged
into a wicked, disastrous war, or any great Gala
nifty or crime, through mal-sdminstration, these
men would be among the loudest grumbers, and
would nyeigh against the misdeeds of the authors
of the wrong. We tell them, and such US they,
You, Sirs, are the responsible, guilty authors Of
" the disagreement you often deplore All the
" demagogues in the land are less culpable than
"you!"
No igroramGs or smpleton is bothered with any
scrt pics as 70 the candidates he supports; he
.yotos tLe regular ticket" and obeys the injunc-
ton. "No scratching" II he gets a name
erased he has special good reasons therefor. But
your conscientious, moral, upright citizen is full Of
dualms and hesitations He afraid this candidate
on the ticket is unscund in religious faith or that
one don't pay bis debts, or the other drinks-and
go ON. SO far as these scruples tend to keep bad
men off the ticket or out of Office, we say Amen
But it is often carried much further than this
further than reason will justify. We saw on Tues
day thrifty, intelligent, conscientious citizen,
who would have voted the Republican ticket if
any, deliberately erase every name on a Republican
ballot but that of single candidate for county
Office and then vote it, In reply to all remon-
strances he insisted that he didn't know anything
about any of the candidates but this One-he wasn't
a party msn-didn't understand the questions in
issue, &c. But he ought TO have understood them
it was his plain duty TO do so, and to make in
Guiries as TO the character and worth Of the cand
dates respectively. His ignorance, whether real
or exaggerated, was no real eXcuse--it Ws in
itself crime against the public veal md - that
can hardly fail of invoking penalty.
1t is sad fact that men who are usually sober
and decorous will often drink to the yerge-some-
times over the verge-of intoxcation, on the day
set apart for the discharge Of the most grave and
momentous public duty. A dance at funeral or
u fight in church would be quite as seemly and ap-
propriate.
The seething, boiling ocean of drunkenness, fight
ing rioting, illegal voting, bribery, perjury stolld
ignorance and stubborn prejudice, which go so far
toward making up all average election, would seem
about as unlikely foundation for liberty, justice and
protection 10 public and private rights as the heart
of d corrupt minister or the brain of foolish king
Yet, Ike the lightning from the cloud, like the
honey from Samson's lion, Like the pure metal from
the glowing furnace into which such diverse and
forbiidng elements have been seasonaby cast, it
VIII hardly be denied that the average results of
our Elections do reflect pretty faithfully the sue
cessiye phases of the public mind and give much
force TO the sdage that Z" he voice of the People is
'.the voice of God"
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Everybody that knows anything about the peO-