The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1885-10-22
A Duty of the Citizen.

government than that imposed by the |
privilege to vote. 1t is the method pro-
vided by law for the citizen to participate |
in the enactment and enforcement of the |
laws. It's the only legitimate way for
him to take part and make known his
wishes in government. The neglect to
exercise the privilege of the ballot is con-
sequently neglect Of a public duty. 1t
is an abandonment of duty of citizenship
and carries with it infinitely more respon-
sibility than to exercise it. No citizen
who properly understands and values his
relation to government can afford to de-
cline to cast his vote, where policies and
measures affecting all the people and may
be the very destiny of the State are in
volved. The ballot reflects the convic-
tions. the Judgment and motives of the
voter. 1t his inner self. 1t measures his
understanding, his hopes, his purposes, his
intelligence and his patriotism. Not to
exercise the privilege it confers is to sur
render self-is to abbreviate manhood and
abridge personal rights, as well as to falter
in the discharge of a sacred duty. Had 1t
not been intended that every citizen
should avail OF this method to express
himself in the affairs of State, the laws
fixing the qualifications of voters and reg
uating the election machinery, would new
er have been adopted. The presumption
was and is that every citizen should feel
enough concern in the government under
which he lives. to use this means to indi-
cate what kind of laws and government
he desires, and the officers whose views
and opinions better harmonic with the
intention of the voter. to carry them into
effect That is a fundamental condition
of our institutions. 1t is one of the oellga-
lions which should be carefully considered
and conscientiously discharged. And when
this duty is met.then the citizen is absolved
from responsibility, whether the senti-
ment, the meaning Of his vote is incorpo-
rated into the laws or not, for he has
awaited himself of the only means by
which he could influence legislation and
give direction to 60, eminent.
In this canvass the ballot is more than
ordinarily pregnant with important inter
ests. 1t involves
The final settlement of the debt ques-
ton.
The prosperity of the public schools.
Aid from The government to the educa-
tional interests of the South in proportion
to the illiteracy in each State.
A free ballot and fair count.
The repeal of the infamous partizar
election law passed by the last Legislature
designed to practically disfranchise quail
fed voters Of the State, if Bourbonism
cannot succeed without it.
The protection of the industries and the
labor of the country.
A protest against sectionalisn, whether
it comes from the North or South.
A broad nationalism, embracing the
whole Union and operating to the adyan'
tage of every Statesand the common coun.
try.
The right of the citizen to vote his SEN
timents at the polls. without being
prescribed in his business or social rela
tions.
Tolerance in all things, whether OF State
or church. and the exercise of spirit OF
mutual respect and forbearance in form
ing and expressing opinions on questions
relating to public interests.
There are other questions equally i'm
portant in their relations to the people
their rights, welfare and progress-in-
volyed in this canvass, and ballot depos
tied must comprehend them all, either fol
or against.
We are aware that there is certain
class of our most worthy citizens who hes
itate to exercise the right to vote and fire.
quently decline to participate in the affairs
of government, through the ballot. They
are nom combatants by virtue of their
church relations, their love of peace and
their aspirations to live as near TO the ex
ample of Christ as it is possible for sinful
mortals to do. 1t is apprehension that in
taking part in the elections by casting
their votes for one party or the other, CON
tingencies might arise which would com
plicate them with warning factions, and
possibly hostile relations. This, to our
mind, is an erroneous view to take of the
matter. The naotire in whatever we do
gives Interpretation to our action. The bal
lot, in its very nature, is peaceful agen.
cy. 1t is essentially weapon of peace, and
the only method Of expressing the inten
ton of the citizen in matters of State. To
use it with peaceful intent, for a peaceful
purpose and for catholic results. is as high
duty as any imposed by citizenship. In
deed it is dereliction Of duty not to use
it toconvey the intention and conviction
of the citizen. 1t is a prudential means
to preserve peace, for it is only where the
ballot fails to voicethe will of the constit-
uent in behalf of pacific measures. is ii
possible for successful appeal to more
sanguinary agencies to be made.
1t is too much the habit of our more con-
servative citizens to leave to the more in.
iammatory of the people the direction OF
public affairs and the control of the ballot
box. If all the people would feel equal
ly the duty of participating in elec-
tions, and, by reason of this, in legisla-
ton, through the ballot-box, conservative
and peaceful influences would prevail
where sometimes the reverse is the case.
If mischievous legislation and bad laws
are enacted it is generally traceable to
neglect of the ballot by our best and most
conservative people. They surrender what
they believe to be the true policy by re-
framing from voting, and commit to others
whose motives are not as pacific OF
aims as catholic as their own. the duty
they themselves should discharge. In any
view that can be taken Of it, indeed. the
citizen neglects agrave and important duty
by not going to the polls and casting bal
lot which will voice his sentiments and
Naid in entrusting with power those who may
more nearly reflect his opinions and as
h irations.
No more sacred and pressing duty at
taches to citizenship than that of casting
an honest, conscientious vote. 1t is the
citizens defence against bad laws and
harmful legislation and the mode in which
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