The Brookhaven leader., 1883-11-01
How 90 Vote.


LEADER which will he published be-
fore the day Of election. we had in
tended writing something specific
as to the motives which should govern
the individual, voter in casting his
ballot; but the Liberty Herald has
cxprt ell our sentiments so well,
we will read to every listener lis
article AID adop. it as oar own:
Every vot"r when ne goes to the
polls should, in casting his vote, be
Ictuatcd by higher and more pa
triOtic motives than merely the de-
sire to secure tho election Of some
friend, solely for that friends honor
and emOlument. Officers are created
in all Just governments FIR the bcnc-
fit of the public, aud not for the adj
vanccmont Of the individual officer.
He who undertakes the discharge Of
duty is entitled to pay, just as any
employee in private station de
serves wages in proportion to the
Scrl ices rendered. In private life n
man is engaged in q particular
capacity, not because the price paid
will benefit him, bat because the
work done is of that value to the
employ r, and we never fad con
tracts given to one kGowa to be
without the nece> sary qualifications,
simply because We like the man.
Individual preferences, in private
employment have their legitimate
effect, when ether things are equal,
! but no man is 50 foolish as to be
! blinded to his own interests by his
friendship. The same principle
should govern men in the election
of officers, for they are nothing more
than public servants, each being
assigned the discharge of duties Dc
fined by law. In the choice, there
fore, of any purticu.ar officer, the
question should always be asked
by every voter, is this man fully
competent FIR the post he seeks?
If The answer comes from the con
science, that he is unfit, either for
want of proper education, honesty
or industry, then the vote should be
given in accordance with the die
tatcS of TIC judgment on these vital
questions. The powers of govern
mcnt arc distributed among variety
of offices, each requiring some spec
ial qualification probably not needed
Ia another. a man who will make
a first-rate constable or sheriff may
5e wholly unfit for clerk, assessor
or judge. The peculiar qualiiica-
lions Of an assessor, to wit: a thor
ough knowledge Of figures, and the
patience and industry to PORE over
long columns of figures by the hour,
are not needed in clerk or justice
of the peace. So the high legal at
tainments required for judicial
station are not to be demanded for
shat Of mere ministerial post. For
each particular office tie voter
should inquire as to the special
qualifications needed, and then by
his vote should refuse 10 call can
didate to the discharge Of RESPONSE
BILE duties, for which he is believed
to be unfit. There is probably no
cause that will bring the government
and its laws into contempt sooner
than incompetent officers. AS all
governments and all laws arc, Or
should he, for the public good, it
therefore behoOves the people, who
are to be either gamers or losers,
to be cautious in the selection OF
who are to administer the laws and
government. If we careleSsly or
knowingly elect incompetent men
for public stations We must suffer
;he tenalty-and. however great
may be our sutferings under such
circumstances, we will not deserve
either pity sympathy. Government
in the hands Of men either mentally
or morally incompetent, does not
command respect, and losing the
support of cheerful obedience, sink
into a rule of force. And there has
never existed on the earth good
government where the pr.nciple
actuating the rulers was one of physi-
cal rather than of moral power.
/ Z