Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1892-02-17
YouNe mEN IN poLrrIcs.

Gen. STEWART /. WOODF0RD gave
some splendid advice TO young voters at
mass meeting in the Church Of the
Divine Paternity in New York the other
day, where he lectured on the important
theme Young Men in Political Life. "
IL is so good and so true and so timely
that we giYa a large slice Of it:
1T is healthful sigh that in time OF
peace and prosperity young men thinK
about political forms. I confess l am
profound believer in practical politics and
a profound disbeliever in impracticaole
theories. IL is because know that corner
stones are laid in the ground, and the cross
on the cathedral Spire only stands nrm II
the foundations are strong beneath.
The virtue and the intelligence OF the
Republic will either perform the personal
duty Of citizenship or the vastly Ignorant
Of the Republic will perform that duty.
One or the other must rule.
do you believe that the government OF
New York TO-DAY reflects the virtue ana
the education and the better aspiration OF
this people! Do YOU believe that the cleo
tion next autumn will be gathering at
the polls all through the United States Oh
the men who are legally entitled to vote,
casting their ballots each according TO their
conscience, having them counted as they
are cast and having result declared that
will be the honest declaration OF the vote
Of the peoples
"Where does the responsibility lie
Don't ask me, don't ask The daily newspa-
pers. look into your own cOnsciences and
asa yourselves.
How do YOU administer the affairs Of a
popular government Through the agen-
cies OF parties. What are parties! They
are the voluntary associations Of men who
agree in the main in their thought aud Ell
fort, Just as you come together and from
church associations; Just as men come TO-
gether and form charitable associations;
lust as men come together and form educa-
tiOual or business associations.
"DO you young men accept what your
party does or do you try TO do something TO
make your party accept what your ludg-
ment and your conscience approved l don't
care whether YOU are a Democrat, Prohi-
ZIONIST, Republican or Mugwump. Do you
belong 70 the association IN your district
or in your ward! You cannot build demoC-
racy from the top; you have got TO build
up from the bottom. You cannot build 10
where the sunlight glitters on the cross on
cathedral spires, but in the mud, where the
worms are. That is where foundations lie.
do you 20 70 the primary of your ward.
Do YOU know where the primary OF your
ward is held. Probably the most Of you
don't Do you help 70 make Democracy
clean, Do YOU help 70 make Republican
ism clean DO YOU help to make Prohtbi-
tion practicable. Do you help 70 make
Mugwumpery DemOcratjct Do you have
a vote. DO you speak a word or do deed
that teaches the practicable formation Of
practicable politics in the land where you
are living
i have "a profound respect for my Pres
ovterian brethren, who always go 10
praver-meeJing | have "a profound re-
SpecC for my Episcopal brethren, who al
WAYS attend morning service. But ! will
confess TO YOU that have a profOunder re-
spect for the red-sbirted man who always
goes to the primary election Of his political
party.
You tel me the primaries are held in
disagreeahle places. You tell me that the
man Of strong muscle and the quiCk-cOunt-
ing finger will always get the ballot and
declare the result. If he is shrewder than
YOU no the beginning he viii beat you at
the finish
If Democracy is not worth the struggle
90 keep In peace that for which our fathers
died at Valley Forge, then some day De-
mOcracy will die stabbed by fashionable
ind ference at the hands OF educated men.
"Simplv speaking 10 you as citizens, let
me urge the young men 10 do their personal
political duty.
you are not compelled to seek Office.
Do not imag inc because you so 10 the prl-
mary you viii therefore be compelled to be
an alderman