Lewiston teller. [volume] (Lewiston, North Idaho) 1878-1900, 1889-05-23
lNrDRnsT TAKEN IN ELECTION

Supposed single citizen OF Lewisto
should be DISTINGUISHED by some dom
inant force, without legal right, eve1
though it be in the small matter o
election Of "hog reef" what a howl o
indignation would arise from the op
pressed voter. Why, just because w
"caute" vote for our side in petty loca
statehood meeting we get on our ear suc
bolt. Political demagogues ding it at u.
as a lure from our innocuous desuetude
this is quotation, no slur-that We
a.e deprived Of the high born right to
vote for President. Governor and other
state officers, with their eye on some
Office under state government. We had
thought that the elective franchise was
quito boon, in fact, We have, in
moments Of sentimental reflection,
esteemed the privilege, the dearest of
earth, because the blood bought price of
liberty. But, alas there come times
when pride must fall; when sentiment
sits silently squelched, aud we are forced
to ask, "Have We not morbidly miscon-
ceived tho question and occupied too
ethereal elevation" This question is
now before US. From the high pedestal
Of exalted aspirations and hopes, We
gaze upon the shattered fragments of a
broken sovereignty, tho appalling
spectacle of our free school system, the
brightest child in our family Of principles,
abandoned as an outcast and sent forth
founding without prospect Of asylum,
even though We have but tadpole
existence, as citizens, yet we have less
ambition even than those amphibiaus,
for they will hang on to the tail end
every time, while we let 60 even the tail
end Of suffrage that we have. How
many krew that on last Monday from
II to 5 o'clock P. NJ, there was being
held, at our magnificent school building,
the regular annual election Of directors?
How many cared The canvas to-mor-
row will show about thirty persons. We
have three hundred voters in the town,
men who pay taxes, though some may
MT have to buy school books. One.
tenth only Of our boosted sovereignty put
to any earthly Use whatever. OF where
wefc the nine? Some say there was a
menageris 10 town that day, or, that
they heard some further outbreak OF the
whites on the reservation aud remained
at home to protect their hearth stones
still others said, o, there's only one ticket
in the field, good candidates are running,
no use to vote for foregone conclusion |
But suppose this bad not been true,
suppose BY some accident, unfit can.
didates had been running, for it would
be only accident that such could be found
IN this community, or even some little
ring business had manipulated some
echemo inimical to our school, would |
that have helped US to remember the
occasion any better? No. at all. R,.'
this is not what We mean; tho question
il not 40 much Of privilege as it Is Of
duty. No good citizen has the moral
right to let anything eflecting public
interests go BY default. Very often,
when this is done, aud the result happens
to be bad, those Who took no part in
preventing it arc the most blatant
grumblers. Instances have occurred in
our city elections when officers have been
elected, who have not proven efficient,
even dcrciict, and then you would hear
terrible things said about putting such
men in Office, when 10 /! and behold /! it ,
would be found that the grumblcrs had
sot taken any part nor interest 10 the
election. Why, the whole thing could
lave been prevented by little fore. !
hought in the matter. Everybod, !
'nows that We have city election once =
year, the second Monday 10 June, they !.
now, too. that property rights, social !,
ights, all rights arc involved; then no :
otter has the right to neglect his interest, 8
be publics interest by RETAINING from :,
cling an active member Of this commuu. I
y. What are you doing about selecting ;,
he right men to do your official business? :,
We are within three weeks Of election j; :,
9 don't hear a word in the matter. 4
here may be no great Importance in the \,
Of our affairs just now. N
erhaps we need, even no officers at all,
city government. This affords no q
reuse for inac'iop. Nobody knows how =,
'on matters of great moment may arise .
ID We should always be prepared to - =
al With them as they are met. We c!
a DO this only by the best organization IN
which We are capable. It would be
eierable to set political parties at work m
honest rivalry, rather tbao staguate 10 \,
u