The Wellington enterprise. [volume] (Wellington, Ohio) 1867-188?, 1884-06-04
The First votcr.


The time is at hand in the politics Of
the country when first voters must
choose between the two great parties,
their candidates and principles. Since
the last Presidential campaign, result
ing in the election of Garfield, tens OF
thousands of young men have come to
the LEGAL age, and are voters for the first
time. To each and all OF these the
history of the great events that pre-
coded and transpired during the war Of
rebellion is but a tradition imperfectly
understood. The legislation elected
since is not as well understood by them
assby. .mciJof ripper age. Yet the intelll-
gonce Of the rising generation is SO
ecnrrai and the education OF young
Americans so universal that it Is lex-
ceptionai to find men of from twenty to
thirty years OF age who have not good
idea of the merits Of tho two parties
that now appealfor the peoples SUI
irage. ~ anA = liligcH ~
1he Republican party occupies the
point of vantage, both imposition and
inlatrenglh. ITS work endires, and its
vitality is not yet spent. The purposes
formhich tho party was organized. and
tho events which have demanded its
perpetuaton, have been, and are, OF
supremest importance. A quarter OF y
century Of the country's greatest and
most .lnomentous history is she history
Of the Republican party, as distinguish
ing itfrom all other political organ
izations. Therecord Of the Democratic
partyngst besought in the refuse, the
wreck and failures thai 1hlye streYed
the path otnat!oaal progress. Not
one Of the living principles oi the Amer
lean republic is Democratic in its origin,
TIE attitude Of that party has been one
OF open hostility to all that is excellent
and desirable i1 public polity 1t Is
needless 70 reGodnt the things that have
been done By the former and opposed
by Ihe latter, Milh0ut exception the
record has been made up in the mapnor
above indicated.
For The niar a50ut TO cast his first
vote and 70 offer his allegiance TO one
ortho other of tho two parties, this is o
time for serious deliberation. The copn-
try needs the help of every true, strong,
patriotic citizen aud no less does the
conscientious citizen need the fellowship
ofmen Of pyinei ye. composing a party
whose purposes aye good and whose
character isietabiishol. 1t is parallel
10 gong into business-an politics is
most segious business. On the one
hand there is house established, and
successful in every undertaking during
twenty-four years. On Tic other is u
firm bankrupied in 1860, devoid of prin-
oplc. without commercial sagacity, and
whose paper has been protested all lover
tho land What firm will You enterP
Under the tutorship of which will you
begin the serious business OF citizen.
Snip p .... ..,...
This Is matter that each must can
vass for himself. The young voter will
be met with plausible arguments and
specious pleas on every side. His IL is
10 sift the good out OF the bad; to investi-
gate, and, as the truth appears, 10 act
Tor himself. The record Is open--not
in political pamphlets, nor in campaign
speeches alone, but in the platforms ol
principles that shall be enunciatedin the
near future. The Republican party
has left its impress on every page o.
history for nearly quarter of cen
tury, and is willing to be judged by any
or all. Yet it does not live n.the pas
but, strengthened and emboldened by
past achievements, 1t grapples with the
question of to-day and presents
chart for future Work. IT.
principles are for to-day. TO NOR
row and all time to come. Grounded
on justice and right, they must endure.
Its candidates are living men, chosen
FOR present worth rather than rs .
means of securing success by more
than questionable methods. These are
things for the young man TO consider
carefully and candidly. A mesdlliance
would ever be humiliating and harmful
1t should be the ambition Of every live,
clear-headed young man TO start right
after which il will be an easy thing e
continue right. Let prejudice be dis
missed, let intelligence triumph owe
sophistry, and let your resolve be Il
declare in favor OF that which is bes
for th, welfare OF the people and th'
perpe uity Of our hard-earned free in
stitUtions. Indianapolis Journal