The Lafayette advertiser. [volume] (Vermilionville [i.e. Lafayette], La.) 1865-19??, 1889-08-31
THE MORALITY OF a VOTE.
1.-THE American Catholic Eews.l

4 "A . =
In our times here and elsewhere leg-
islators and local officials are selected
by the vote Of the people. Our Gov
ernors and even the President of the
United States-the electoral college
being farce-are chosen by the votes
Of the citizen. If each man by bis
vote endeayors to put & coed and com
petent man in the position which is to
be filed he can enjoy and merit the ap-
prOval Of his own conscience. If he
helps to put in Office as Mayor, Gov
ernor, Judge, Member Of State or Ma
tiOnal Legislature, or any other office
q man whom, in his heart, he deems
unworthy, a man to whom he would
not temporarily in life or on his death
bed, confde the management Of his
own business affairs, he certainly acts
against his own conscience, commits a
sin, and helps evil men to abuse the
power they acquire, sqgander the pnb-
lie money, enrich those who can afford
to bride, and impoyerish the poor.
For ''gold is in lis last analysis the
blood Of the brave and the sweat Of
the poor" The man who votes reck-
leasly, without inquiry, merely at+the
dictation or reryuation Of others has a
pretty difficult case to settle with his
conscience. He exerts a great privi-
Iege conided to him for the public
good but does orecklessly, ike man
firing wantonly into a crowd Of people.
lie may really hurt no one, but the
chances are that some one viii be in
jured.
Here we have the exercise Of the
franchise by one who feels his respon-
sibility as a Christian and 9 Catholic,
endeavoring TO nse his vote Tor the
greatest good Of the community its
exercise by one who despises The die
tates Of his conscience and votes
against It, with one whose conscience
Is torpid. There is another class, and
q class that is growing not only il great
cities, but eSen ia raral districts, those
who. sell their votes, and when election
comes deliberately propose to sell their
votes, reckless Vhether they help evil
minded to ofiice or power. The cor
ruption viii not come from any eandi-
8ata worthy Of an honest mans ballot;
and the bribed citizen is sure to vote
for aA unworthy man, q man whom he
must feel to be unit for Office. He
deliberately votes fer bad man, and
does so from a most unworthy motive
He sacrifices the good Of his country,
like a traitor, for a paltry bribe. Cor.
ruptIon pervades our whole system OF
government, and viii continue to dc
so till a great moral movement is made
to relieve politics from It's utter base
ness. The responsibility Of a votel
cannot be too frequently brought be-
fore men, and the baSeDess and iniqui
tx of voting for unworthy men, voting
for hire; or voting without regard t.
consequences brought directly home tt
the voters soul aud conscience. Fhe
Church has not been anmindful Of tbs
evils that have arisen.gom the abuses
Of the elective franchise, and the ruin
Of souls entaiIed by political corrup
ton. For the dishonest politician anc
his willing dnpes
"Sopompons osssaquies can quell
The judgr1entigseat S severity"
A terrible recgsag must be paid
sooner or latar. 3sseseventh Coun
Gil of Quebec, he'd Is May, 1856, ans
approved by haseeo Kill. the 24tl
decree takes upsh;s subiect and de
elares hat to seIltlle vote is to sell the
conscience, and 20 descend taa depth
worthy of no honest man.
1T is sin against GodSand man, ant
those are guilty who scil, as well as thos'
who buy the vote. Those who act 81
commit great wong against society
from which they Danish its instructive
honor and the honesty inherent in ever,
mind. =
If in Canada isneeessary to place
such a. decree on the statute-book O
the Church, the Catholic press in thi'
country should exert itself TO counter
act, especially in large cities, where 81
many of. our people are led astray, th'
tendency to bribertaking by voters. a
well as voting against the dictates o
conscience. and lead men more fre
quently 70 think softhe responsibilit,
citizenship imposes ard Of the stric
account tbe% nustsones day. give 0
their exercise Of the.elecliye franchise