The Richmond palladium. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1855-1875, 1872-10-05
LETTERS ToA YOUNG MAN


VuhEv Hill, sept. ZOtO, 1oiI.
Ny DEAR You've FRIExD: You say
that in political matters you have had
little experience, and that, now, when
you are called upon to cast your FIRST
vote In tho election Of officers for cur
Government, you are at loss to decide
between the two tickets offered as.
am exceedingly pleased to observe your
hesitancy in this case, for it indicates
your desire to be on the right side, and
svinces noble spirit Of justice. Too
many young men, slas, are influenced
BY har-room and stIeet-corner argument,
and only accept that which intrudes
itself upon their lax Trains and is indis-
posed to leave. DO not, pray you,
listen to the heated arguments and per-
suesions Of any man-of any party who
ignores the history OF his country, the
history Of his or anybody eise's party.
and does not know who was his Gov
srnor or his President, few years back.
Every day Of your lie you will meet
men who can talk vshemently, can spout
politics, can give you ANYTHING but sense
every day you viii come in contact with
men who will not believe you homes. in
your opinions, unless you are willing to
wager ten, twenty, or an hundred dol
lars on the result Of tho elections. Shun
such men.
Consult the writings Of the best polit-
icsl authors Of our country, listen atten-
lively to the speeches Of good and wor-
thy men-then decide.
Then decide whether in your first en-
joyment Of suffrage you shall support
this or that candidate. Understand, that
do not say to you, vote by all means
for this man, or vote by all means for
that; yet sincerely and earnestly en-
join upon you to stand By the Union,
under all aud any circumstances; and I
feel confident that your reading ard OF
serving will point out to you the person
through whom you can DO faithful to the
Union.
In tho present campaign do remen-
Der our dead heroes; those who love all
the hardships and privations Of fear
full, fracticidal war for the continuation
Of our free Government those who
uameless lie in graves unknown and for
gotten; those who persisted in every
conceivable manner contingent to ter
rible civil strife; and in this rsn M
biaDee try to save BY ballot what they
made BY bullet
Are you not aware that men who once
strove to SOW devastation and horrible
ruin broad cast in our Northt 70 laud,
strove to add to the already great num-
Der Of widows and orphans, strove t.
persuade our soldiers to desert are now,
to-day, this moment, % strenuous!y en-
deavoring 10 gain power under fa'se
colors! The man who plunged knife
deeper into your country's heart, when
she was, as he knew, already bleeding to
death, now stands before you, and asks
you to elect him Governor of your State!
You know him!
When your brother was dying Of starva-
ton in Andersonville, and your father,
and your mother, your sisters, AID you,
were bitterly crying over the terrible
news, you heard his name; and, young
IS you we're then, you hated this man in
your boyish heart.
Your father read Of him-talked Of
him, and cursed him-and l say unto
you, that sea Of blood and IN ocean o!
of tears will surge and foam about him,
and curse him down to his grave!
Allow me to admonish you agsinst
indiscriminate argument. II you must
argue, do SO in your own head, and with
yourself. You will not 30 90 likely to
fall out with yoxrseif, IS with others.
Set your impulse against your reason le,
them contend.
I hope you will enjoy common sense
in this matter, and trust to hear from
you soon. Truly yours,