The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1874-10-31
GIVE ONE DAY TO THE COUNTRY.

GIVE ONE DA1 III IHE COUNlh1s
The election of members of Congress
occurs but once in two years. and there is
American citizen, and who has the proper
appreciation of its worth, who will not will
ingly devote day, or part of day, to his
election duties. These duties consist not
only in casting his ballot, but in inducing
others, his neighbors and friends to go to
the polls and deposit their ballots also.
The right sentiment prevails in that COM
munity where, although "politics may
be irksome to some persons, yet as prin-
ciple of duty, they feel conscientiously
bound to fill their places as units in the
great machinery of American popular gov
eminent. While every man feels pride
and personal interest in the Government,
as a partnership in which he is concerned,
and that it is his duty to look after its wei
fare, the hope OF the final triumph of pop
ular government throughout the civilized
world grows brighter.
While to vote is the highest prerogative
of freeman, it is most essential to strive
to understand, what interest or influence
your vote may have on the question of good
or misdirected government. Since the
Republican party have had the direction of
national affairs, the influence of American
political ideas of popular government, has
widened and deepened throughout the
world, as never before they were felt in the
old monarchies and empires of Europe and
Asia. The tribal theory of Democracy
which sought to exalt every State into an
independent sovereignty, to satisfy the
Jealous fears of few slave owning barons,
at the expense of national government,
as a stupendous humbug, that would break
into hundred pieces at the first strain.
This was the inevitable consequence, had
the fundamental idea of the Democratic
party been carried out to its legitimate
results. But when State sovereignty and
slavery were pitted against nationality, the
fallacy and weakness of the former, and
the monstrous anomaly of condition of
slavery as an element in government,
whose great principal was personal liberty
and citizenship, were blown to the winds;
and it was made manifest to the Old World
that great empire really existed on this
continent, whose Government was for the
people and by the people, with no other
sovereign or political power known in this
new empire, than the directing will of the
whole people.
Now the Democratic party has never
given up its idea of governing accord
ing to its old theories, and if again estab-
lished in the full control of all the machin-
cry of government, would attempt very
speedily, by force OF fraud, to bring back
the old state of affairs as nearly as posi-
BILE. While diversion is made against
the dishonest or inefficient Office holders
that have elbowed their way into the civil
service under the Republican party, the
policy of the Democratic party, if restored
to power, is too apt to be lost sight Of There
is nothing more important to insure the
future welfare of the nation, than that the
old Democratic party with its heresies of
government, should be kept from gaining
a controlling power again in the country.
The worst blunder that inefficient officials
may make in a Republican administration,
is far preferable to the most ably conducted
administration, exclusively on the Demo
cratic party's theories. 1t is, therefore,
essential that Republicans should not grow
apathetic and Indifferent to retaining con-
troll of the nation, through a long lease of
power. 1t is time that Maryland was pro-
perly represented in Congress. 1t has
been misrepresented by inefficient mem
bers already too long.