Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1872-11-24

Inc D05lAOu Ol the AEfEAL III IbEdTu
to compelling men to vote, has ELECTED
considerable comment by the press
throughout the country. The GAINESVILLE
Tobacco Leaf says:
The Memphis APPEAL favors compul-
sorry voting, that is taxing all who fail
to vote. There is much reason for say
ing that it is slavish in a citizen not tC
vote. Look at it seriously, and what
must be thought of the man who refuses
to take any part in the government,
either to maintain it as it is, or to alter
it, if they do not approve it? What
must be thought of the future when
seventy-eight thousand voters stay
away from the polls as in Tennes-
see on the fifth Of November. We
have no sort of respect for that stupid
policy, which makes a man not vote
because he don't like n man or anoth-
er. A man should settle which man
represents the principles that come near
est suiting his ideas, and then vote fol-
one or the other. TIE take an extreme
case, if A. Johnson and the "old Harry
were running, we should vote for one or
the other. We have stillless respect for
that supineness, which keeps a man
away nom the polls, because he is either
busy, or just worthless to his country.
There is no question that should so
much attract the attention ofgoodmenas
the science ofgovernment. Public liber-
ty,civil and religious freedom, good judg-
es, honestoficials and high orlow taxes,
are all involved in the question of vo-
ting. When the scum and riff-raff, the
mob Of tatterdemalions, control cleo
tons there will be bad men in office,
unjust laws enacted, and the country
burdened with just such debt, as now
grind the people. The debt that is now
crushing the South resulted from the
fact that none but the dregs Of
society voted, because the edu-
Gated, intellect and wealth Of
the South were DISTINGUISHED. We
may expect to have Communism
triumphant 50 long as the ~sansculOtte
elect their own gang to make and adj
minister the law. II the wicked bear
rule, the people are responsible for it.
II men Of talent, education and wealth
are too proud to vote, or too avaricious
TO give the time necessary to aid in pro-
curing a government to protect their
property, let them pay a tax which will
TO some extent reimburse the good men
who vote 20 u an honest admins
tration Of public affairs. Voting is the
means by which the friends Of good
government exert their power, most eff
fectlvely express their moral sense, and
determine who shall make and execute
the laws under which they are to live.
Impure water flows from a filthy foun-
tain; and a government whose officers
are elected by ragamufins will be as cor
rupt as the stream tainted at the foun-
tain head. Hence, it is a duty, and not
merely a right, which the %elector, hav-
ing the power to discharge, cannot omit
and yet be innocent. 1t is as really a
duty which he owes to himself, to socie-
ty and the interests Of good government,
as it is a duty to pay an honest
debt, or meet the requirements 81 n
other obligation. Politics are corrupted.
scoundrels are elected to office, and
great wrongs are inflicted on the Com
monwealth, because we have 90 large a
class OF respectable citizens so refined in
their taste, too sanity in their morals,
and too select in their association to at
tend the polls or have anything to do
with politics. The very abuses that
have grown up through their neglect,
they now make as an excuse for tine nom
performance of their duty. The result Of
such course win always be an organ
lied Tammany, the election of knaves,
the degeneration Of parties, the imposi-
ton of enormous taxes, the corruption
Of the public morals, and the triumph OF
fnfamy. II the science of govern
ment should attract the attention OF
patriots and statesmen-f good men
and good laws are essential to the
perpetuatOn Of our liberties, to pre-
vent anarchy, taxation and ruin
Is il not the duty Of all good
men to voter There is nothing
mOnstrous in making men perform their
duty, sven II It be that most important
Of all duties, voting. 1t does not neces-
sarily follow that because a man is made
20 discharge his duty a a citizen, by
compelling him to vote, that the next
step wiz be 70 compel him as TO how he
should vote. The lay compels mel to
cit ca juries; but itkdoes not instruct
them IS to hoW they bail decide