Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1876-09-26
Neglected. Duties.


slider themselves guilty of a gloss viola
ton Of duty ii thew failed 20 supply their
families with food snd clothing. out " DO
take no iuteIeS, 10 po.ii.ca. matters.
Year after year, election Gay passes with
out iodiDg them present a, The polls.
S,iil, an no way DO they seen 10 teel that
this neglect is as reproheas.O.e as fail
ure to supply comforts and coHvenienceS
10 the household. They 90 no, realize
that good laws tor the protection OF prop
er,y and The preservation OF peace sre As
necessary aS food and clothes; or, il
they do, they tail to exhibit a knowledge
OF such obligation 10y actions correspond
ing with the SPonsibiiity.
According to our i0rm OF government.
every citizen has an equal share in The
framing Of all laws, and in shaping lecis-
la,ive sctior. ID bad laws are passed or
unwise legislation prevails. every citizen
VINO did NOT raise his voice, and cast his
bsilo. against such action. Is equally re-
spOusible with those who voted Tor the
measure. It,, ~ hcs OF attention. ire
spousib.e men are elected % office; if
they cheat and s,ta., thereby Increasing
Gxs.ioU, and bringing disgrace to our
government, the s.ay.at-hrme Is IS guilty
as ,lvugh ne allowed q tibet TO enter his
premises, uuopposed, OF an unprincipled
friend 20 bring dishouor upon bis family.
b. The simple casing OF ballot Is
not The Only political duty which many
citizens neglect. There are compara-
lively Jew who have any know!edge OF
the principles OF our government. No,
one 10 ten can Tel. how many Secretaries
compose ,he Cabinet. nor the population
required to eautie given territory to
representation in Congress-. It is doubt
ia. j. many can tell which counties COM
pose their own representative district.
Such ignorance would not be tolerated in
business or domestic aiIairs-insiguidcant
- they are compared with uslion's ex-
iSteuce.
Las, Tuesday 90. least dozen young
men in Paris cast theiI first voie. Through.
out the State many hundred youths at
tanned lLeic majority during tue political
year Of 1876. Tb,se additions to the
body polite, from Year o year. ATE val
liable or derogatory to national lite, as
the voters a,e iuteliseu, OF ignorant. II
they vote simply as their fathers voted,
OF from the less exalted motive OF pres
sure tom friend or foe. they a.e ot Ii.,le
value 10 community. Ia case OF great
na,iona. straits, they would vote with
their friends, rather than for measures OF
self preservation. Bat il their fathers
nave done their duty toward these sons,
they have been instructed in the science
Of government, and taught 20 think and
act tor themselves. Then they nav be
classed a the best element IN society.
and may be depended upon TO execute
their trusts faithfully ana without preiu-
dice.
While many mea acknowledge tina, it
is their dog 80 attend to political affairs.
and to instruct ,leir children in such
matters, they excuse themselves from so
doing, on the ground that politicians
are corrupt zone cannot touch political
matters without getting smurched," etc.
This Is the ease to q certain extent. No
man may be the candidate for a higb
Office without being yillifed. His per.
sonai' private and political history are
searched by a set of INSCRIPTIONS. biased
spies and detectives. II he ever com
mit;ed any folly or 0luude.ed in bis En-
beavers 20 aid community. the fact j.
dressed up IN brigh. colors and spread
before the public. Bu, ii he have a clear
conscience. he need give himself no con-
Germ IS 10 The effect OF such charges.
Duty may not be set aside because it Is
unpleasant. The sheriff must execute
Judgment though toe criminals ulood be-
smear MIN All the evils which have
erepi into political ai4irs. may be traced
TO the indifference Of respectable voters.
"hica has led them 10 remain at home,
or mas exhibited itself by such inauen-
hon 10 tue questions Of the day that they
are unable to Judge regarding the merits
oil candidates. The evils which We now