The Red Cloud chief., 1884-05-30
The First Voter.

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 h 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-
ceded and TRANSFERRED during the war of
rebellion is but a tradition imperfectly
understood. The legislation elected
since is not as well understood by them
as by men of ripper age. Yet the intelli-
gence OF the rising generation is so
general and the education of young
Americans so universal that it is ex-
ceptiOnal to find Caen of from twenty to
thirty years Of age who have not aCood
idea OF the merits of the two parties
that now appeal for the peoples suf-
frage.
The Republican party occupies the
point OF vantage, both in position and
in strength. Its work endures. and its
vitality is not yet spent. The purposes
for which the party was organized. and
the events which have demanded its
perpetuation, have been, and are, of
supremcst Importance. A quarter of a
century of the cOuntry's greatest and
most mOmentOus history is the history
of the Republican party. As distinguish
ing 1t from all other political organ
lZatlOnS. The record of the Democratic
party must be sought in the refuse, the
wreck and failures that have strewcd
the path of national progress. Not
one of the living principles of the Amer
lean republic is Democratic in its origin.
The attitude of that party has been one
of open hostility to all that is excellent
and desirable in public poliiy. 1t is
needless to recount the things that have
been done by he former and opposed
by the latter. Without exception the
record has been made up in the manner
above indicated.
For the mar about to cast his first
vote and to offer his allegiance to one
or the other Of the two parties. this is 4
time for serious deliberatiOn. The coun-
try needs the help of every true. strong,
patriotic citizen: aud no less does the
conscientious citizen need the fellowship
OF men of principle. composing a party
whose purposes are good and whose
character is established. 1t is parallel
TO going into bu>ineSs-and politics is
4 most serious business. On the one
hand there is a house established and
successful in every undertaking during
twenty-fOnr Years. On the other is =:
firm ~bankrupted in 1860. devoid of pr.n-
ciple. without commercial sagacity. and
whose paper has been protested allover
the land. What firm will VOC enter?
Under the tutorship of which will YOU
begin the serious business of citizen /.
snip?
Ibis is a matter that each must cam
vass for himself. The young voter will
be met with plausible arguments and
speclous pleas or every side. His it is
TO slit the good out of the bad; to investi-
gate. and. as the truth appears. TO avt
himself. The record is open-not
in political pamphlets. nor in campaign
speeches alone. but in the platforms of
principles that shall be enunciated in the
near future. The Republican party
has left its impress on every page of
for nearly 4 quarter of a cen
and Is willing to be Judged by any
or all. Yet it does not live in the past
but. strengthened and emboldened by
past achievements. it grapples with the
of to-day and presents
a chart for future Work. It's
principles are Tor today. to NOR
row and all time to come. Grounded
On justice and right, tiey must endure.
is candidates are living men, chosen
'or present worth rather than As 4
means OF securing success by more
han quest enable methods. These are
Kings for the young man to consider
and cand dly. 4 mesalliance
would ever be Illuminating and harm vi.
{ should be the ambition of every live,
lea -headed young man to start right.
liter which it will be an easy thing to
'ont:nue right. Let pre- udice be dis {
let intelligence triumph over '
ophistry, and let your resolve be to :
leclare in favor OF that which is best |
or the welfare of the people and the I
'erpetuity of Il h~ard-earned free in !
indianapolis Journal I