The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1872-11-01
Poll the Vote.

The faint-hearted and careless may
excuse themselves from the duty Of
voting at the Presidential election, on
the ground that there is no probability
of carrying Pennsylvania for Greeley
and Brown, but the truehearted and
dauntless democrats who have rallied to
the front after successive defeats, for a
dozen years, will not falter now. Par
ties are organized and maintained in
order that masses efpeople may express
their political views at the ballot box.
The object of party organization is not
merely to elect individuals to Office, but
toobtain an expression ofpublic opinion
through the agency of the ballot, on the
issues of the political canvass. There
fore the duty of members of political
party to attend the election and record
their votes, does not cease when in their
Judgment 1t appears that the candidates
Of their choice may not be successful in
this or that tlocality. They still owe it to
their organization to poll their full
strength in order that as strong an ex-
preston of public sentiment as possible
may be had in favor of its principles or
doctrines. The Democrats and Liberals
of Pennsylvania have cons equently to
discharge the important duty of ofsustain-
ing their principles by their votes,
duty which they owe not only to their
party, but to themselves and to their
country. Every democratic voter who
absents himself from the election, ,tacitly
assents to the reelection of Grant and
actually consents to an endorsement of
all the monstrosities and villanies of his
administration. Every voluntary alb.
sentee casts halfa.vote against amnesty,
against the right of the people to local
ana self government, against reform in
the civil service, and against reconcilia.
ton and peace. Every such absentee
casts half vote for arbitrary arrests,
for the suspension of the ha5eas corpus,
for a continuation of carpet bag rule in
thesouthern states, for Tom Murphyism
In the custom house, and nepotism and
gift-taking in the White House. What
Democrat or Liberal worthy ofthe name
Is able to satisfy his conscience for such
dereliction OF duty? We are not ofthose,
however, who regard Pennsylvania 80
hopelessly lost as to warrant us in max.
ing no effort to carry the State. We do
not yield the battle. There are THREE
HUNDRED AND SIXTY THOU
SAND Democrats and Liberals in the |
State, and If these could be brought to |
the polls on the fifth of November, the |
electoral vote of Pennsylvania would |
be assured to Greeley and Brown. Are
we so demOralized by the fraudulent
and corrupt October triumph of the |
Cameron ring that we may not rally |
our forces for the next onset? For shame! |
Let 1t not be said that the gallant legions
Of the Pennnsylvania Democracy are 30
easily dismayed Our brethren else
where are waging noble battle for the |
Right. In New York, Connecticut, New |
Hampshire, New Jersey, Ohio, Indiana,
Illinois and Wisconsin the campaign is
vigorously urged with the most eucour-
aging signs of Liberal victories in all
these States. Throughout the whole
South, with the exception of South
Carolina, the work goes bravely Oh, and
one hundred and twenty-five electoral
votes will be cast in that portion of the
Union for Greeley and Brown. Then let
the line be reformed in Pennsylvania.
Let US hasten to retrieve the lostground.
Let us resolve to deserve success, and
thus command 1t.