The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1878-03-15
A FEW. WORDS TO VOTERS.

The season is rapidly approaching when
the county will be literally swarmed with
candidates seeking the favor of the people,
in order to secure votes in the Democatic
nominating convention which usually meets
in August. There is never any difficulty in
finding men, so far as numbers are concerned,
to fill all offices of honor or trust, to which a
salary is attached. There are always plenty
who are willing to sacrifice themselves for
their couutry's good, but it is not the volun-
tecrs themselves who shall say that they must
hold Office it is the people who select the
public servants. This is great and sacred
privilege and ought not to be abused as it too
frequently is. Every man in America is a
king, and yet there are too many such kings
who are abject slaves, who know only to do the
will Of their master. If that master be a
tricky politician his slaves stand ready at all
times to do the dirty work that he himself
is ashamed to stoop to.
1t is a disgraceful fact that many men are
placed in Office by the votes of the people.
who are totally unfit and incompetent to hold
such positions. There are cries of corrup-
ton, bribery and fraud from all over the ma
iion, and yet the very people who raise the
cry are the ones to blame for this situa-
ton Of affairs. Men may cry reform" but
there is no reform until the people shall learn
to exercise the rights of freemen as freemen
Voters should be thinking men. They
should vote as they think right, and not as
some one else tells them for then they become
mere machines, tools for the politicians.
They should not vote for man for any par
ticular Office because he asked first for their
support, but should wait until all the candi-
dates are in the field, and then select the best
man in the crowd.
Nor should voters be Influenced simply by
personal friendship. A man may be my dear.
est friend and yet not be fit for public Of
flee. Voters should demand certain requi-
sites of candidates for important offices. The
candidate should be man of good character
he should be good business man, he should
possess ability, integrity, and above all, hsn-
esty. He should not be candidate for
the purpose of enriching himself or for any
selfish purpose but because the people call
him to public life. .....
The voter ought to vote for the man who
will make the best officer, but the fixed rule
is now that the the voter casts his ballot for
the one from whom he expects to obtain the
most benefit; competency is left out of the
question.
Democrats of Columbia county, you have
heavy responsibility resting on you this year.
You are to select from among nearly two
score the men who shall govern your affairs
for few years to.'come We urge you to vote
for no man for public Office who is not COM
petent to fill it. Vote for no man who will
not do you credit Make your selections care
fully, and when you have made up your
mind, vote right. With you the whole mat
ter rests. If you elect men as county officers
who are untitled for their work you are the
losers. Exercise the rights of freemen and
put in nomination for the several county Off
ces the best men who have offered themselves,
and vour dutv will ha dnpa