Middletown transcript., 1870-09-24
THE DUTY OF THE CirrzEN.

In government like ours, where the
people bear rule through their chosen rep
rosentatives, every man is an integral part
Of the government, and in some degree
responsible for the character of the gov
ernment, whether it be good or bad. If
BY his ballot and by his personal influence
he upholds the good and opposes the evil,
he has fulfilled his duty, and his response
bility for the evil ceases. But, if he neg
lects or refuses to exert his personal inAu
cncc or to exercise his right of suffrage in
behalf Of what he conscientiously believes
to be right and proper, he is derelict in
duty, and fails to measure up to the stand
ard of good citizenship; the state and So
ciety suffers through his delinquency and
he is responsible, in his degree, for any
political evil or maladministra:i which
may ensue. The elective franchise is a
sacred trust, reposed in the citizen, not
for the good of himself alone, but for the
benefit Of the state also, of which he is a
component part 1t should be exercised
intelligently and conscientiously, for the
good of the whole. 1t is the source of
power in republic, and the glory of a
free people, and ought to be cherished
and guarded with a jealous care. That it
: has been conferred upon an ignorant, bru-
tai, and semi-barbarous race, who are liv-
ing amongst us, is our shame, and det-
riment to the state. But, because these
. ignorant barbarians have been permitted
to share this privilege with us, is that 0
valid reason for any intelligent citizen tc
refuse to exercise the right himself? Il
it not, rather, an additional incentive fol
him to repair to the polls and cast hi,
ballot against this great degradation of thu
elective franchise ? That he is filled will
disgust at this pollution of the source o
power in our republic, is natural Ever,
truly patriotic and right-thinking citizen
must experience the same feeling; but, i
refusal to vote a remedy for the evil
Il it not rather sanction of the evil t.
refuse to apply the only remedy whicl
meets the case? But" says the oh
jector. " I have solemnly declared that
would not vote, and 1 must keep m
word" If it was wrong to make such
nd h. Il. Al
it was, it is an additional and a create
wrong to keep it, if you are convince
that you were wrong in making it. T
keep ones word is commendable, if tha
word were rightly spoken; but it is
sound principle in ethics, that a bad prom
Use is better broken than kept The me
rality of this principle cannot be called
question. Tt is eminently proper an
right, therefore. for any one who has mac
this rash vow, to reconsider and reveri
it. Nay, more, it is his imperative du
to do so. We trust that every one W
feel it to be his duty, in this solemn cris
Of our country's history, to go to the pol
and by his ballot protest against this gre
outrage upon American citizenship, al
this pollution of the elective franchise, t
great source and fountain of all lcgitima
power in a republican government.
your country were invaded by forei;
foe. you could not reconcile it with yo
sense of duty to remain in safety VIII
others went to the front with arms in ha
to repel the invaders and give you prote
tion. Patriotism requires you to vic
the ballot for your country's safety a
honor, as well as the bullet; for, if S
ever falls, her ruin is more likely to !
suit from the former than the latter.
The Democrats of St. Georges Hundr
he follo o,