, 1876-02-06
LETTERS FROM THE PEOPLE.
s'S'''- THE DUTY OF CITIZENS,

@'-t'"~ THE DUTY OF CITIZENS,
To the Editor Of The Chicago Tribune:
CHICAGO. Feb. 4.-In my letter Of Sunday last
entitled "Taxes Vs. Gtumblers," endoAyore.
to point ont IN part remedy for the eyila com
planned OF. l have heard objections made b.
some against law compelling citizen to vote
assigning as reason that in a republican gov
ernment every man should be allowed to vote O.
not being responsible to no one for bis deter
nlnat!on in the matter Such critics forget tht
fact that republic can only be maintained b,
adopting the theory Of the immortal Wash
luGton, who said: "If America woult
DO 1feo. she must do her own voting
and lighting" There arc certain duties
imposed upon us by existing Laws and enforced
hy suitable penalties, which are much greater
hasdsh!ps than would be law compelling all
cltlzons to vote, md yet no one demnuds re-
peal OF the laws compelling performance oi
these duties. among which are jury duty, the
| payment Of taxes, heaaing Of arms in defeneo of
the Government, aud tho surrender Of our prop
ertS to the demands of eminent domain. All
or any OF tho above commands Of the law are
more cruel than the ono prorosou for com2ul-
cory voting or the ono Furnishing drunkenness
as CRIME whom indulged by public
| officers. Il must not bo FORGOTTEN that
| he who o1nitn to do thing which
should be done is quite as guilty as lie
! who does that which should not he done. We
| have just entered upon tho second century Of
/ our national existence. If We show to the
world sincere desire to put in practice the theo-
| r!es Of our form Of Government a. set out in
| tue Declaration OF Independence, tho struggling
/ patriots throughout the world will renew their
prayers FOR the perpetuity OF our national exist
| et,ee: it, OH the contrary, It ehaii appear to
! those from foreign clmes who visit our Centep-
ulal celebration that the boasled rights and
privileges OF our American citizen are by-word
aud ,s,e1 eaFcatqf0' unappIesasd b. those
not deserve the epithet OF Da~
! ton Of huubues-if it be true that
our fathers through seven long years OF bloody
warfare merely met tho civilized armies OF the
parent country, together with Their allies, tho
savage butchers OF tho forest, Tor no higher mo-
tivcs than love Of WARP Then indeed, all the
calumnies which hlye been 80 p1olusely heapcd
upon us By the Jealous monarchs of tha Old
Would, is 4 truthful aratement Of our character.
Is it not true that through the abuse Of
tue elective franchise and further failure Of its
universal use our nation is drifting toward an-
archy or desEotsn? Tho failure to nso and the
habit Of abusing this sacred privilege are some
Of the reasons for tho existence OF the official
crimes which hare becomo 30 fre-
quent, thpt they nre now dressed
in the curb OF responsibility. Has not the time
como when the honest reoplo of this land shou!d
arse abose all party ties, and with one nnited
voice proclaim We have no further use for drunk
his eentlnels around the camp in which hiB
wearied Bodiers sleep after the terrors and trials
Of battle, Furnishes with death tho soldier who
sleeps when assigned to this duty. When we
jeopardizins few hundred OF = Thousand lives.
what should DO done with the drunken or dis
honest official whose wards are num-
bored by the millions? They have chosen
consigning to him the power to MAKO lays, the
effect Of which should be to protect him in tho
enjoyment Of life, liberty, aud the pursuit of
happiness, but while In a state Of inepriety DOW
SO common among our public officers, he be-
comes incapable and unmiudfuf Of the interests
consigned to his care, and urged only by his
maudllu desires, frequently commits, directly
or indirectly; the grossest outrage upon the in
terests Of those who BY his oath Of Office be has
sworu to protect. Drunkenness aud dishonesty
are twin s1sters,-the one begets financial em-
barrassment, aud in thai trying hour dishonesty
comes to relieve its kln.
Again repent, if We would svoid the evils I |
have alluded to, We must vote one and all. We !
ance Of this duty, on the ground Of the public |
safety The law must be 30 worded that when !
We have 80 voted the successful candidate must !
pursue course not Inconsistent with morality |
or tho public good II the successful candidate
should fa1l to do go, let the consequences here
tofore alluded to be certain to follow. In addi-
tion to the causes before mentioned. there is an-
other to which I desire to call the atten-
ton OF the public. It is one, the
alarming existence Of which ia plainly Visible
free use Of money by oil parties to promote tho
SUCCESS Of their respective candidates. It not
only has tendency to corrupt cfacials and lower
the dignity of tho citizens, but in plne cases out
Of ten the money So expended ia either the pro-
ceeda OF Official stealing, or, like the bread Of
old thxt was cast upon the waters, it is expected
It will be returned before term Of cttice ex-
pi1es with All hundred fold interest. The mod
penny to corrupt the elector, and can rob him
Of dollars afterwards it am elected TO the Of
Gee to which aspire" To prevent in al fnture
time those occurrences nov 30 CON-
non. let law be enacted, the substance
If which shall bo as follows: " From and af
.er it's passage any person who shall ask, take,
ar receive any mouey OF Other valuable consid-
araton for his vote or influence in behalf OF any
candidate for Office, shall, on conviction Of such
,ffonse, be forever debar1ed the privilege OF
attached to the giyer Of q bribe. Sec. 2 OF
his law should provide that all officers should |
AXE and subscribe to the following oath before
entering upon their duties lin addition to tho
INC now adminis:e1ed): lido solemnly swear
hat I have not used any money or other |
'aluable consideration for the purpose Of elect
ng myself to tho Office to which have been
elected and that have not promised. either BY
myself or friends. any appointment or patronage
II my gift before this election after became 3
;andidate for the Office to which have been
,lectedr The substance Of the above osth to
,e taken nnl subscribed BY all public officers
,cfo.c they shall enter upon the discharge Of !
heir duties. Is
Am not unmndfu1 OF tho fact that what |
,aye written Oh these subjects il like all other I
,rohuc:s OF the human mind, far from beng
,erfect, bnt il s!aal! succeed in directing pub
&c attention to the existonca OF the visible
wills Of which have spoken, am inclined to {
he belief that If not mr own some other REM /
dy will be rointed out by means OF which the |
ody polite may escnro the consequences which {
ro sure to result from continuance OF tho ]
wills complained OF.
Iu conclusion, let me quote the sensible words t
T Judge Davis, who said: ''publ1c Office
honld not ba sought for, nor refused when =
iycn." May the time soon come when tho pco- +
10 shall adopt tbs plan suggested by tho above L
ensib1e Judge, and let them hunt for their
ublic servants, adopting as their motto, s..We
ant no man tor pabiic officer who, without =
ur solicit:tions, Reeks for and implcres Of us ,
ur support" ". Il. EDDY.
THE RESU2lrT1oN ACT RErEA.
o the Ea1tor Of The Chicago 7r1ounr- e
CHICAGO, Feb 5.-Erory ward in our city now
% its poI,,ical club aud on their rolls one finds