The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1888-10-28
The Men Who Never Vote.

70 the Editor of the indianapolis Journal:
II the question were asked, ''Can . man be {
patriot who deliberately refuses TO voter . We
hemsnt reply in the negative would spring from
the lips o; nine out of every ten American citi-
zens. TIE tenth, il reports are correct. would
be compelled, from personal motives. to say yes,
or to remain silent Ten per cent Of the en-
franchised class. it is said, fail to exercise the
highest right, even in the most hotlv-contestsd
election. 1t seems incredible. Yet these men
are. as a rule, what is termed respectable. They
are law-abiding. Not infrequently they are men
of intellect and culture. Not infrequently they
take upon themselves superior airs, and are per-
haps honestly imbued with an "I-am-holier-than-
thou" feeling. Perhaps. If they were to give
expression to their sentiments. they would say,
Milking in tho dirty pool of politics 10 not the
proper business for men Of our calibeE." Poor,
deluded creatures. The humblest man who
conscientiously casts his ballot 10 their
to be desired element of character q man can
possess. It is pharisa;cal pride and selfishness
which keeps . man out OF politics for fear he
might soil his little finger. when a matter affect
ING the welfare of a nation 10 to be decided.
But il is probably more often indifference than
pride which leads men to be ncn-voters. For
some reason, many men have no realizing sense
of their own responsibility in regard to politics.
1n6y are wiling 20 trust au2irs OF governmouI
to others. They naturally underestimate the
value OF their own vote. They are Laodicians,
weak in manhood, and OF comparatively little
worth as citizens; objects, perhaps, or pity,
rather than Of blame. A third class OF non.
voters are simply moral towards. They do not
want to share in the responsibility of what may
be q bad government. They do not care to have
political principles which they must defend.
They will not risk making enemies by a psrti-
sanship which would be. In a manner, thrust
upon them if they Woodland they, too, find
comfort in that trite insult to politics implied
iu the words - dirty pool"
II these men could only be made 10 under
stand that they do not escape their governmental
responsibility by not votingl II they could only
be made to understand that as long as they hold
the right of franchise, they share In the govern
ment by not voting, as well as by voting! In
case of wrong measures and e~nactments, they
are, perhaps, doubly responsible, for they have
refused even to lift their hand In defense OF the
right.
What should be done with such mena We
punish treason with death. A man who would
destroy the government whose protection and
privileges he has enjoyed does not deserve any
mercy at its hands. A refusal to vote
is treason against the right Of fran
chise. If oft repeated, its only leeiti-
mate punishment 10 disfranchisment This
| punishment, however, may be mitigated, with a
certain fairness, in one way-the best way pos
sible under the present imperfect extension OF
franchise. Let every man who. without an I'M.
deniably good reason, fails at my time to vote
be disfranchised. But let him vote by q substi-
tute, chosen from among the earnest, consci-
entious and able women who desire to exercise
their withheld right OF franchise, and who ap-
preciate its importance. There would be some
thing of the beauty of retributive justice in
placing these non-voters On q level with the
present great disfranchised class, compelled to
be represented CD by the other sex.
NEW ALBANY, Ind. MARY Il. CARDwILI-