The aegis & intelligencer., 1894-10-26
HOW TO VOTE.

HOW TO VOTE.
For nearly a year past the newspa-
pers and the political speakers of the
country have devoted their time so
exclusively to the tariff that many
persons might think that is the only
question which divides the two great
political parties. 1t is a matter of
great Importance, undoubtedly, but it
is questionable whether it is the most
important. Whatever touches our
pocketbooks finds tender spot and
we are apt to give financial questions
close attention. There are other mat
ters, however, beside which mere
questions involving monetary gain or
loss sink into insignificance. When,
honor, justice or liberty are involved
no thought of lucre should stand in
the way of a prompt enrolment on the
side of right. When we find ourselves
in position to act conscientiously in
regard to things which are morally
right or wrong, and at the same time
better ourselves and our neighbors
financially, we can have no excuse for
hesitating.
The sole question to be decided at
the election in this county this fall is
whether we shall have a Democratic
or Republican Congressman to rep
resent us at Washington. The right
of suffrage is one of the most precious
possessions of the American people,
and it should be exercised thought
fully and conscientiously. No man
should vote the Democratic or the Re-
publican ticket merely because his
father voted it, or from a desire to
curry favor with any man or combina-
ton of men. To an intelligent voter
one of the first thoughts that should
arise in connection with the right of
suffrage is its great value to him, and
the proud nature of the privilege
Logically the next question would be,
whence comes that right ? The
answer is easy. 1t is a God given
right, inherent in every individual.
How is it then, the citizens of other
countries do not enjoy it in the full
ness with which it is exercised in
America Because those countries
are still accursed by the so-called pa
ternaP' government from which the
spirit of Democracy freed us in 1776,
and which the Republican party un-
der that name and others, has ever
since been endeavoring to greater or
a less degree to fasten upon us. Be-
cause the Democratic party has ever
resisted the efforts of those Republi-
can leaders who, in years gone by,
forced some of our best citizens away
from the ballot box at the point of the
bayonet, and who, within the memory
of the youngest voter, filled our cities
with thousands of hireling deputy
marshals, subsidized to make our
elections anything else than free. Be
cause Democratic leaders, although
in the minority, stood firmly for the
cause of the people and succeeded in
defeating that piece of most iniqui-
tions and uncalled for attempted leg
islation known as the force bill.
Having satisfied himself on these
points let the voter run over in his
mind the glorious history of the Demo
cratic party and ask himself what at
titude it has taken in all the great
questions which have agitated politi-
cal thought since the days of Jefferson.
Which party is it that has ever been
the firm friend and champion of labor
in its continual enforced resistance
against the despotism of combined
capital and defended it against the
onsaults of corporate greed? When
the spendthrift and profigate policy
of the Republican party had allowed
soulless corporations to acquire terri
tory equal in the aggregate to mag
which were acquired under Demo-
cratic rule and which were intended
to be carved up into homes for our
people, what party was it that on its
fist accession to power after the war
RI GIFTED the wrong as far as it was
possible to do so and restored an area
equal to several large states to the
people, to whom it belongs?
Which party is it that has ever
sought to ease the burdens of taxation
from the already bowed shoulders of
la Dor, and cheaper the necessaries of
life? Which party is it which has
sought to promote peace and honest
friendship with all nations?" Let the
voter ask himself these questions and
answer them fairly and there will be
no doubt about an immense Demo
cratic majority this fall.