Martinsburg herald. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1881-1920, 1886-12-04
SELECTIONS.
THE BALLOT.

THE BALLOT.
The indifference of many intelli-
gent and well meaning men to the
import of the ballot is one of the
strange things in connection with
its use. When impartially consider.
ed there is no more important and
Impressive duty, under our system
of government, that the exercise of
elective franchise. The ballot is in.
tended to be the expression of the
convictions as to measures and poll
cies OF the voter and convey his hon.
est belief as to what is best for the
people and the government. 1t is
really the highest and most sacred
privilege that is conferred by our
laws-higher than the obligations of
party-more sacred than the ties of
personal friendship. Yet with all
the sanctity by which it should be
hedged, we find intelligent men using
it in the most thoughtless and in
different way-more frequently ex-
pressing their prejudices than their
convictions. Since the recent cleo.
tlon we have heard gentlemen whom
we greatly respect, remark that they
believed in the views of the Republi.
cans on the more prominent ques-
tions at issue in that contest, but
that they could not abandon or vote
against their party-that although
the party was wro 6 as to the ques-
lions named, yet they felt it to their
convictions as to what was right as
to measures and cast their ballots to
sustain an organization that did not
represent their views of either prin-
ciples or policies. One gentleman
said that in advocating the Demo.
cratic cause he was hampered, be-
cause he knew he was not right on
the tariff Issue or the educational
interest, yet he felt justified in speak
ing for it for the reason that lie was
identified with the organization. 1t
seems to us that there is Il fragrant
underestimate of the duties of citi-
Zenship to such course-a slavish
subserviency to prejudice, and an
inexcusable abandonment of princi-
pie.
We believe it to be the duty of
every citizen qualified to vote to cast
his ballot, and he stultifies himself
and demonstrates an unworthiness to
exercise the privilege if that ballot
does not express his convictions as
to the questions at issue in the con-
troversy. There can be no more
insidious assault upon our institu-
tions-no more dangerous indiffer.
ence to the cause of good govern
mcmillan for the ballot to be di.
rected and controlled by whims and
prejudices or BY passion, or anything
less than high purpose and honest
conviction as to what is best in legis-
lation. We have had clever gentle
men to say to us that they believed
in the principles and measures we
sustain, but that they could not vote
with us because certain other per-
sons, equally empowered by law to
cast ballot, voted as we did. To
our mind it is strange reasoning, that
if another votes for what we believe
to be right, we should vote for what
we believe to be wrong, because we
do not think he is sufficiently quail.
fed to cast ballot intelligently. If
the vote is cast for what we contend
is right, whether with proper and
discriminating understanding of it's
import or not. it is vote in the right
direction, and for us to allow preiu-
dice to control our ballot against our
conviction as to measures, would be
a reflection upon our intelligence and
fitness for the exercise of this high
privilege.
1t is too often that the full mean.
ing of the ballot is not considered
the duty it implies not properly CON-
pretended and appreciated by those
who pride themselves upon their
social standing and cultured attain
ments. They treat it as means to
express their preiudices, and no:
their reason and convictions. They
prostitute it from its high mission to
the base uses of embittered passion
and ranking prejudice, and divert
it from the objects for which it was
instituted.