The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1870-10-10
7RE DUTY or CITIZENS.

One of the chief causes of political corruption
is in the apathy displayed with regard to po-
litica matters by the class of citizens who
complain most of the existing evils. There
are great numbers of the most intelligentmen
in the community who ought to have a con-
trolling influence in political matters, and
who could have if they would only make
little exertion, but who are not only abso-
lutely unknown in political circles, and who
are never seen at preliminary meetings and
delegate elections, and but seldom at the
polls. A Presidential election, or one in
which some great national issue is involved,
may bring out such men, but on
the scarcely less important occasions
when members of Congress, members of
the Legislature, members of Councils, Judges,
and State and municipal officers are to be
chosen, they are content to leave the whole
matter in the hands of regular political wire
pullers Notwithstanding the fact that inte-
rests of the greatest moment are involved in
the selection of proper men to fill offices of the
highest trust and responsibility. At the cleo
tion tomorrow there will undoxbtedly be an
immense number of stay-at-homes, and the
majority of these, we are sorry to say, will be
Republicans. These voters should consider
that by remaining away from the polls for no
other reason than that it will be slight in
convenience and variation from their regular
routine to attend to their duties as citizens and
deposit their ballots they are giving direct aid
and encouragement to the vices that, if not
checked, will inevitably destroy our whole
political system. 1t is not merely the right
but it is the absolute duty of every citizen to
vote at every election, and those who neglect
this duty do grievous injury not only to
themselves but to the whole community.
If party ticket is not in all respects satisfac
tory scratch it literally, and make ticket that
will at least be o. an average respectability,
but by all means vote some ticket, and aid as
far as is possible in putting thebest men into
Office. We have stringent laws to prevent
fraudulent voting, but it is a serious question
whether we ought not to have laws also to
compel, under severe pains and penalties,
legal voters to deposit their ballots; and it is
scarcely too much to say that the man who
will not spare the time and take the slight
trouble necessary for the performance of his
obvious political duties is unworthy to enjoy
the benefits of citizenship.
Tomorrow there are great number of
very important public oficers to be elected,
and if our interests are to be properly
cared for. the best men must be chosen to re-
present us in Congress, in the Legislature, in
Councils. on the bench, and in our various
municipal offices. The number of voters who
are not capable of forming intelligent opinions
with regard to the worth of the various candi-
dates is very small, and it is not
pleasant to think that those least capable of
voting with Judgment will be most numerous
in their attendance at the polls.
1t may be considered as certain
that the Democrats will cast a
full vote to-m morrow, and that those who will
neglect their duty will be Republicans of the
more intellig mt class, who ought to exercise
controlling influence instead of leaving our
political affairs entirely in the hands of pro-
fessional po' iticians and the classes who are
least capable of managing them properly.
We hope sincerely that those of our citizens
who have intended to remain away from the
polls. or who have debated in their minds
whether to do so or not, will give this subject
the consideration it deserves, and vote early
if not often tomorrow.