Southern standard. (McMinnville, Tenn.) 1879-current, 1889-02-02
The Value of a Vote.

Anna Laurens Dawes, in Wide Awake.
A lady of great experience and
high character once said to me, "If |
had a vote / know / should sell it, if
the subject to be voted on was one ]
didn't care much about. In fact /
never could see why a man shouldn't
sell his vote as much as anything else
he owns"
One eXclaims at once: "What an
idea How could she think of doing
such a thing as that ?"
But if asked why not, perhaps few
young people would reply as quick
ly. Suppose each one asks himself
why a man should not sell his vote.
After all the answer to this ques-
ton lies in asking another "What
does a vote mean ?" or to put it
differently, "What does it do?"
The dictionary declares that vote
is "the expression of a wish, desire,
will, preference or choice in regard to
any measure proposed, in which the
person voting has an interest in
common with others, either in elect
ingN man to Office, or in passing
laws, rules, regulations and the like"
That is to say, when you vote you
express your conviction that one
particular man is the best man for a
certain Office; or your conviction that
some particular law is good law for
the community; and the Importance,
or rather the solemnity ofthis action,
is very well exhibited by the word
itself.
Vote, as you know, comes from the
Latin word UOtuRl, a vow, and it
meant just this in Shakespeare's
time. You see that the act contains
in its very name something more
than the trifing wish of the moment.
1t is the solemn expression ola mans
best Judgment; record of his de-
liberate criticism either that one man
will rule theland better than another,
or that the community needs a par
ticular law for its best good.
Now, shall a man sell his judg-
ment? or auction off his conviction
to the highest bidder? A uote is not
property; it is something higher and
finer than this-it is an opinion; and
opinions that are in the market are
no opinions at all Its a conviction,
or the expression of Il mans soul.
Such a high and serious thing is the
power Of the ballot.
But, further than this, what does
it do ? what can a man accomplish
with his vote? Even II it may not be
uihed with, why need it be used ?
Perhaps you do not think it will be
worth while to vote; that it will be
too much trouble, and that you shall
care very little about the elections.
Why should a man vote anyway !
and why is it the proudest day of an
American boys life when he casts
his first vote for President?
Because vote governs. One of the
greatest acts man can perform is to
govern. TO rule a tribe is the
privilege Of the strongest in it. To
rule a kingdom is the ambition OF
The wisest. The pomp and circum-
stance of an emperor is only the out
ward expression of how magnificent
a thing it is to rule. But after all the
real grandeur lies in the opportunity
and responsibility underneath the
splendor. The cabinet where the
king meets his ministers and discusses
and decides the fate of his people is
agrea ter place than the thrOne-rOom
where he receives ambassadors. But
every man who votes is himself 8
ruler of his nation. In the United
States the ballot boX-simple and
unromantic as it isis the throne Of
the President; and when our Exec
utive decides the course of our affairs
it is every man in the land behind
him who does it, who is govern
ing the country. EXery voter shares
in the government, every vote eX
presses his conviction as TO how the
country shall be governed and whC
shall put this same conviction into
practice.
The man who votes thereby record.
his solemn conviction as to the gov
eminent, and in so doing he himsel
governs the land. He who neglect
this duty neglectsto use that pOwe
4o rllp C,r ,vbiph mon have GLADLY