Telegram-herald., 1890-07-31

ties In american Affairs The indiTer-
ence of the American voter is the great
est danger To tho American Republic.
Danger IS not % be feared from the men
who are too active in politics. It will
cone rather from the men who think
themselves too good for politics, or that
no party IS good enough for them. Any
free government Is balanced on It's citi-
zens who are voters, and the safety OF
a republic is balanced on every vote. IL
voting could DO made compulsory. IL all
the winners and grovlers OF the intel
lectual sort could be compelled 70 vote,
politics. OF course. would De made much
better. II we could have something like
tho Australian ballot law, and with IL
statute compelling every man entitled
20 vote 20 deposit his ballot, then the
Republic would have tho benefit at the
polls of the opinion one way or the other
OF every available voter In its popula-
tion. The good American who will not
vote once when he knows that he ought
70 do IL Is unfaithful only in less de-
gree than tho bad American who tries
20 vote twice Therefore, | think that
oil activity s~t zeal in politics, Other
wira personal interest in government,
instead of being discouraged ought
20 be encouraged The very safety OF
the Republic depends upon il
As 70 activity and demonstration in
politics the country is in little danger
FROM the man who Is proud OF his colors
and openly shows them, who carries
torch and goes with 4 hurrah on irs
way 20 political victory; that fellow is
patriot, or as near IL as ne has the ca
pac.ty to be. Il IS the skulking. growl-
ing fellow, who finds no party good
enough for him, who viii not vote az
all who does not believe in the honesty
OF six millions Of Democrats in a party,
nor Of six millions OF Republicans in
party. but Who SCOTS at every thing.
and sirhs FOR a better sort of politics
and a better sort of world, who does
more harm by omission than tho most
active nan IN politics does by commits
sion. The Pharisceism that bewails
solGshuess in politics and yet does not
participate personally in politics TO
make it better, is simply an Intellectual
fashion Of hypocrisy and avoidance.
Nothing can De dOno By way OF chang
ing the Government or filing Offices ex-
cept by The action OF political parties
As 20 the charge that in politics men
grow selfish. I would reply that instead
they grow generous. Where one man
In politics serves himself ten thousand
servo their countrT. Il IS a feld Of
constant discipline. and the sort Of dis
eipliuo that broadcns mon. IL is an
arena Of conflict where they see the
good and the bad side OF men diplaycd.
The world Of politics takes care Of its
poor. helps 70 reform by human syn
pathv and cheer those who have made
mistakes. helps % make every thing
fair and free from successful accusation
OF stain. "a much "a any other OF the
organized forms Of society It is in con-
test that men learn 70 know each other.
It il IN contest that they learn 20 be
generous. Politics has developed good
fellowship in many chap who never
know before what good fellowship was
II has taught him TO be generous whore
he was littI. an1 moan before. It has
shamed him into the display 81 man
hood where Dc was not IN him 20 b
manly before Participation in 4 great
Political contest. ths same as participa-
zion in Office. tends 20 make a nan coa-
sorvativo. Put rcsponsibility On an
American, aud vou have zot Tour best
huerican- Put responsibility on men
ir a political convention. and ron have
-sade better Americans q them Men
70 together In policies % holp serve
their country. The Indictment 0f uen
in roiitics for seifshness has nothing -
stand On. There are twelve or thirteen
millions o. men vho are active in poll
ftfcs. aui there are less than three hun
s~rH thousand Offices. Why indict the
thirteen million men who g into pol
itics 1s ali hunting ior an Ofiice. il face @.
ttis great fact. that there IA not An o1ice
fer enc in 6ltyf Why not be fairs WIZ
sECuIH ncs tn oeslec rllstf crttic. anu nora
crnics - fair even With w0rsers n
To ricse BE- would be q great CasnTe-
ant a new experience % then- but sL-
aus try it f1r once'
he last rear holding Al hunah BE
place IN the Govern ment where / have
haf Co DO business With everT neigh
tc-hrc8 In the Cnieed States for every
uei-b hrrhccd hss post-cfice. and
everv man IN every neiVh borhocd = in-
srreseed In tbe ncst-cf1ce1. I have had
abundsns opportanitY 20 stuiy this side
cf aumaa nai4ra lt has refzesAed TT