San Antonio daily light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1886-1907, 1894-05-03

smith to make watch nor &
clerk to take the part of physi.
clan, yet we with confidence en-.
trust the making of our laws anC
their execution to unframed anC
uneducated men. We expect
them to institute great reforms
an d remedy abuses; it is not fol
us merely to condemn our Iegis
la tive bodies. They are what they
are because of the ignorance anC
in difference of the people. Ed
ucation is the remedy fol
this. Our common schools
are the fields for working out
American history; the theory, the
origin, and development of our in.
situations presented in some at
tractive form must be made the
most important part of public
school work. The children must
learn not only to love our country,
because of the glorious lives of the
great men, but rather they must
be given the qualifications neces-
sary for American citizenship.
/
suffrage is not barren right to be
merely enjoyed, but is rather the
highest obligation of citizenship,
upon the proper performance of
which depends the success Of free
government.
MUST VOTE WITH UNDERSTANDING.
Here, then, is the meaning Of
young mems work in politics.
They must learn to vote intelligent
ly. Let us see to it that Opportu-
nifty is given to all to make them
selves good citizens. Thus ignor-
ance may be overcome and indiffer-
ence, the possibility of it, lessened.
On the threshold of his majority
each man meets the more prac-
tical side of politics. He is called
upon to identify himself with some
party. The party system thus is
necessary and when properly
curbed can be made useful, but
now it has almost become a men,
ace to good government. Origin
ally our party lines were properly
issue, but owing to the predominant
ing interest taken in national ques-
tions, the big national parties have
extended their power into state
and local affairs, making these |
subservient to the public good, to |
party interest. We must ally our
selves to one or the other of these |
great parties, but that party must |
be made subservient to the public |
good. We must see to it that first |
we become American citizens, and
good American citizens, and after
that, partisans. The mere fact of |
voting is but a partial performance
Of duty. One must attend every
primary meeting in his ward or
voting precinct. There the indi- !
vidual exercises the largest choice. |
The body polite is composed of |
many members, its life is abso- |
lutely dependent upon the life and
harmonious working of those |
mem bers.
INDIFFERENCE Is DANGEROUS. |
If the town and the city, the CEN
ters, the very heart of democratic |
government, if the state of the bone
and sinew connecting together the
great national body be neglected or
allowed to waste through abuse
and corruption, we cannot expect |
health in the Nation. The duty
OF young men is then to
shake of Indifference, to make |
the party system benefit |
instead Of curse, to reform anti |
quated cumbersome methods and
to drive out of it this habit by
working intelligently and inces-
sanity in the smallest political
divisions. We may have allied |
ourselves with the Republican
party, cherishing the memories Of
its great men, believing in it's prin-
ciples, knowing that it can rightly |
solve the questions of,today and adj
minister the affairs of government
wisely and honestly, and we have
before us an opportunity for sue
cess seldom afforded. Our chief
opponent is rent asunder by in
ternal discord. It's record of broken
promises, of utter incapacity, of
prostitution of public office for par
ty and personal advantage, have
branded it before the country as
unworthy of further confidence.
The enemy having thus furnished
us with material for many battles,
let us turn to our own forces. Let
us see to it that every Republican
be first a good citizen. Let him be
not ashamed to go into politics.
Let him do yoeman service for the
selection of good candidates. With