New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1884-07-27
"CHOOSE YE ms Day WHOM lE VIII
SERTE"

"tHOOAE n inns H'l "H'" - "4''"
SERTE,"
In Joshua, XIV 10, it is recorded that this
decision was required of the chosen people
The same solemn decision mast be made by
every citizen of Il self governing Nation. Every
citizen has his share of power and his personal
influence. He must cast vote and influence,
whether he will or no, for one side or the other;
for the right or for the wrong. Ii Is trcmcnd-
Gus responsibility which no man can evade' and
for which each must give account.
There is difference between the two parties.
Every man whose conscience Is not dead knows
that there is. He knows, if he has intelligence,
that ii is his solemn duty to use that mtelll-
gence in deciding which of the two parties Is
on the whole the better the more lit
to govern. the more worthy of trust.
If a citizen knows which of The two parties Is
ON the whole the better, but votes for the other
because his fathers did or because he did before
the war; ne is worshipping idols the gods
which your fathers served that were on Che other
side of the flood" If he knows which party
is on the whole the better but prefers the other
because of habits on associations. or private
crudscs or vanitic> or desires, he is worship
ping idols-"thc gods OF the AmoI1tes III whose
land We dwell" Each must face his response
bility. lie cannot bow down before the idol OF
personal ambition or piquc or of private
vanity. or oi custom OF tradltlon-he cannot
worship fav0litc leaders or honolcd Names ana
at the same time say with Joshua As for me
and NV house we will serve the Lord There
is a better and u worse. The man who know
mgly chooses thc worse of the two parties
must stand with those who are false to a sacred
trust.
The man who considers This or that issue
ony or the attitude of candidates only. Is false
to bls duty. lie must choose which OF the par
ties is the better, all tAiugs considered. Noman
has any RIGHT to set up private standard for
himself and 80 vote as 10 hclpthc worse ol t"o
partics because the better does not suit him.
TO do evil that good may come Is % deliberate
crime The solemn duty Of every man l' to do
what j. right Hor. and according 10 hs con
science and his knowledge 70 choose That party
which is ON the whole the better and the more
worthy of trust.
The citizen who does his duty consricutiously
must consider chat the Democratic party ia in
great Part composed Of men whose influence ia
not for the right. In ignorance or in wicked
ness. the voters of that party have supported
70
crime Of attempted reputation, the crime OF
Organized assassination. thc crime OF lyticWdlr
ncriuly i'm counting aud returning votes. the
CRIME of attempted bribery OF electors the
c,imc of circulating foul ialschood' aud
base fofgcica the crime ol Bargaining
with the liquor interest for political power
The men who have done these things nave
brcn Npportcd and defended and are AIN non
oicd. In spite Of their crimes, 10y thu great body
of Democratic voters. They houoi Mr.. tlcVc-
land though lac voted to perpetual" slavery,
and Ia surrender to rebellion, aud 10 rcpudillc
solemn pledges of public luilh They honor
and prefer above all men MIR. lldcn though he
hicd 10 bay Che Presidency They snecr at al
ccnsurc Of Organized assassination for party
purpo-cs They uphold a party which has no
chance of success except 10y systematic niimi-
dation and fraud at the South, and they place
al the head of their organization once more the
man who " bought seven moro mu'cs III 1876,
and sent swiftly all over the land the Morcy
forgery in 1850.
The conscientious voter must decide whether
the influence OF such party Is on the whole bet
ter than that of the Republican party. Alpart-
les have faults; even the latest and protcsscd-
" the purest has already been guilty of a crime
that of SANDER. He who votes for Governor
Cleveland if he does not lack intelligence
enough TO fit him for his duty, knows that he
votes to transfer the controlof the Government,
not merely to an individual who has already
been the tool of Hubert o. Thomp>on's corrupt
ring, but to the Democratic party. He who
votes in a Northern State for any candidate
who cannot be elected on whatever prcteXt,
vote. TO crown with success the crime by which
the South is made solid. No voter can escape
the responsibility if he directly or indirectly
helps to transfer the Government to the Demo-
cratic party. 1t is his duty to kHOlc which of
the two parties is the better and the more de
serving of confidence, and to vote for that
party. "Choose ye this day whom We will
serve"