Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1880-10-15
YOUR FIRST VOTE.

There are large number of young
men in Augusta who will at this election
cast their first vote. 1t Is an act full Of
weight for, with comparatively few excep-
lions, first vote gives direction to the
whole political life of the voter, and the
first ballot should be Well pondered before
it disappears beneath the cover Of the bal
lot box. There are but two national par
ties in this country-one has lasted for
generations through bad and good times,
through peace and war the other was
formed for the settlement Of one question
slavery. The latter through war has
served the purpose for which it was formed
and has degenerated into party organiza-
tion intended chiefly to keep the leaders
IN power and section of the union SUI
preme in the management OF the nation.
One is a national party; the other sectional.
While the intelligence Of the Republican
party is massed in the Northern States,
the intelligence of the Democratic party
is spread throughout this Union from
Maine to Louisiana. The most active dis
tluCtlvO P4luSlRAO Va u1O 4/0nAOOAooAS ResAoy
is opposition to Capitalization in the Ma
tional Government, and its support of the
proper distribution Of power among the
people; it also opposes the Capitalization OF
power in the hands of monopOlists through
high protective tariff laws, and strives to
make the field of manufactures as free to
the man who has only his muscle as to the
capitalist who has his millions; it opposes
the taxing On every farmers ploughshare
in order that few great iron corporations
may make millionaires. 1t makes tile way
clear for the laburing man.
The history Of the Democracy as party
challenges the admiration of the world.
While in power it so wisely used it thai
after civil war brought on by the
great principle of human freedom
it regained that power with: a "a
pidity little less than miraculous. Fiji
teen years ago its opponent, the Republic
can party, stood before the country radiant
with military glory. The whole nation
was held in the hollow OF its hand, and op-
position to it was DISTINGUISHED as a short
cut to perfect supremacy. But that ST.
premacy was spent in riotOus living.
Principle was smothered in politics and
statesmen degenerated into politicians.
The leaders and followers were drunk with
the plumber Of political power, and they
fairly louted the country. Enfranchised
slaves, who could neither think nor un-
derstand, were Admitted to share in the
body polite without preparation; where
the vote of the slaves could not hold a
State the bayonet was used; authority
ceased to be scrupulous about law, and
might usurped the place Of the Constitu-
tion. For nine years this went on I'M
checked. But in the mean time the De,
mocracy Of she country had been preserv-
ing and teaching the young men of the
nation the principles OF the founders Of
the government. The old spent their time
scholars There is something i'll De-
mocracy that takes the hearts of those
whose veins are full of rapid blood, and
whose heads are full of active thoughts.
In 1874 this great class Of the young men
| of America, who had been learning this
lesson, rose and swept the Republican
party out of the halls of Congress with \
| great tidal wave which amazed the nation.
Two years after that they again came
forth and voted for Democratic Presi-
dent, giving him quarter Of million
majority. Again, in November next will
these young men of the country assemble
| to elect Democratic President, and In
that line we should like to see every young
man in Augusta county.
Remember that you cast your next vote
with the Democracy or against it. Such
a state issue as REIMBURSEMENT is a passing
and, necessarily, temporary matter. 1t
has nothing to do with National affairs.
If you are q young man you cannot afford
to turn aside from the rest of the young
men of the nation and waste your Presi.
Dental vote on mere local and side issue
that year from now will have been set
tied and past. The independent ticket is
| the affair OF those who framed it, moi
yours. As for you, you vote with the Ma
| tional Democracy; with the party that has
bravely forced its way up, pushing aside
every obstacle that stood between the 70
tiers of the country and the government of
the country. State questions are not in
this November election as far as you are con
cerned. Lave them to the old party hacks
-Readjusters and Funders to wrangle over
Your place is in the ranks of the Nati0na
Democracy and your banner the Regular
Democratic ticket.