Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1863-05-26
THE PATH OF DUTY.

The right to vote is one of great value,
and the duty to vote is one Of the most
important which free citizen owes to
his country. 1t is unfortunately true
that in times past our people have
not sufficiently felt the value of this right
or the Importance of this duty and that
they have too often yielded up to the
control of party and of party leaders the
entire direction of public affairs. The
advancement Ct the Wing party or of
the Democratic party, has been more
thought of and more attended to by vo-
ters, than the welfare of the country and
the perpetuation of free institutions the
lamentable result is before lis. 1t can
hardly be doubted by any one who is
familiar with the political history of the
United States, that the sectional hate
which resulted in the overthrow of the
Government, and which now urges on
! the fierce war waged against us, is due
in great measure to the fact that par
| ty politicians thought to make party
capital out of sectional iealousies, and,
to that end, excited and infamed pas
sions which at last they found them
selves unable to control.
The mischief which has been done in
the past is beyond remedy, but the flu
tWe is yet under our control; and if
we are wise, if we take to heart the les
sons of misfortune and calamity, we
may yet deserve and secure the blessings
of civil liberty, personal freedom and
social order To do this it is necessary
that every citizen shall regard it as a
high social and religious duty to act
well his own part in the management of
public affairs. The Constitution and the
laws make it the duty of every citizen
to vote-to give to the country the ben
eft of his b stiudgement in theselection
of those to whom are eonfded the des-
TIMES of the country-and no man has
right to be called good citizen, or to
claim that he has done his duty to his
country, if he fails to discharge this i'm
portant trust.
We know many worthy men who are
disposed to think that all the voting they
have done heretofore has done no good,
and who feel strong inclination to stay
at home, and as they say, to "take no
more part in politics" This feeling is
to large extent natural, and yet it is
one which if INDUCED in, must do great
mischief. We live in a Republican
government, all our own institutions are
founded upon popular sufftages, and
until we are prepared to give up free
government we have no right to refuse
to do our part in carryingit on. If one
may refuse, so may another, ard if all
who have no immediate personal inter
est in elections fail to vote, the result
will be to leave our government in-the
hands of Office holders and office seekers.
The breaking down Of the old govern
;, ment, has carried down old parties, and
has brought to naught the influence of
old party leaders let US take heart from
this fact, and let every citizen come for
ward with single mindedness and hon
esty of purpose, resolved to select for all
public positions such men only as in
their personal conduct and character
give assurance Of being worthy of pub
&c confidence.
If we select men Of ability, men of
sound morals, good habits and reliable
integrity we will have done our duty
and we will have reason to expect that
they will do theirs.