Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1874-12-12
THE DUTY OF THE CITIZEN.

Every citizen owes it to himself and his
country to acquire an intelligent knowl-
edge of political affairs and take part in
them. There are some who stand aloof
from politics, as though parties and gov
eminent did not concern them, or as
though there were necessarily contamina-
ton in mingling with those who engage
actively in the strife and hurly-burly of
elections. Now there is not an individ-
ual in the country, young or old, male or
female, who is not affected in some de-
gree by politics, and oftentimes in most
serious and important manner, and that,
too, when they least think of it. The
young men who were called away from
their homes to do battle in the field of
blood against the rebellion, were paying
for the neglect of their fathers, years be-
fore. in not attending to politics and al
lowing the state of affairs to creep on
which produced the clash of arms.
Men said before the rebellion, as
they say now, 1--WE have no in
terest in politics." but the war
taught them better. As to the danger of
deflement, that depends somewhat upon
the individual himself. If a man is hon.
est in business he will be honest in pol
itics. He may be as active as he pleases
in caucuses and conventions without be-
ing dishonorable. There are rogues in
politics as in business and even inside the
church walls, but when the better part of
community attend to their political duties
the rascals are kept in check When the
time comes, as it ought without delay,
that every man will 60 to the caucus or the
polls, as Of right and duty, and be-
comes an interested participant in cleo
tons, there will be little complaint
of the meanness of politics. In recent
editorial the Chicago Tribune speaks of
the duty of citizens as regards the repub-
lican party in plain and forcible man
ner. THE man." it says, "who believes
in placing the payment of our national
debt beyond peradventure; who wishes
to oppose the possibility of the saddling
OF the Confederate debt on the taxi payers
of the North; who is jealous of our ma
tional credit and national honor; who is
anxious to see the currency question
settled in order that business may not be
reduced to speculation and succession
of panics or quasi panics who is DESTROYS
to secure good government, peace, and
prosperity to the South, to whites and
blacks alike. has no option but TO join the
Republican party and work with and for
it. The Republican party is not perfect
No party is perfect. But it is infinitely
better than the Democratic party; and
between the two every citizen is com
PEELED TO choose. If there were a better
party than the Republican party, we
should advise our readers to join il but
there is not and will not be. In tho pres
ent condition of things, then, the duty of
every citizen is to join the better party
He must either do that or do nothing and
to do nothing is equivalent TO working
with the enemy. Party organization is
necessity. To withdraw from party is to
withdraw from the life of the nation. 1t
has been fashionable in small circle of
people lately TO speak of independence of
party. There never was an Independent
party. There never can be. There is
room in this country but for two PARTIES
the Democratic and Republican. Between
the two every man must choose. The
preponderance of intelligence, wealth,
honor, morality, and loyalty 10 the nation,
is found with the Republican party. This
should be enough to decide the choice OF
men with any prctensions to intelligence,
morality, and loyalty. as well as of those
who look merely to the protection of their
material interests