New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1894-10-28
THE ONE SACRED 7EUST

II is rightly said that every vote in the COM
inc election ought 10 he Il conscience vote. Bn'
the fac, NAV be stated more broadly. y" CHI
zen ever has the right 10 cast anything pu' 3"
conscience vote Too many are in the habit "t
regarding suffrage right, or as Il prlNn'S''
ar ~ q personal possession which the voter may
usc lo help friends or punish enemies. II i
neither. and never can be, except IN minds thor
ourhly unworthy To east ballot. Suffrage Is a
trust. given by all the people 10 portion Of
their number in the belief that their ACTON VIII
result in wiser government for all than can any
other way be obtained
There is no other trust SO momcniou> or far
reaching in the consequences which follow I''
cx.rcis. Men talk solcmny Of their grave
trusts as directors of financial corporations, OF
i'm the mana cement Of important public or ~"
uevolcnt institutions. But not one at th"S" Ii'iN
a responsibility In the least comparable I" mat
of the voter whose ballot makes blessing or
banc honor or shame. not merely for all sell
governing people throughout the world, bui I"i
many generations yet TO come. The trclhcndouN
responsibility Is forgotten only because millions
bear II together But in truth every individual
Of those millions has resting upon him ihr r.
sponsbty for all the consequences which may
follow his action The failure OF self govern
ront hears curse 10 millions all over the
world In this country each man * personally
responsible for the welfare II twenty million
homes for The wages 81 twenty million WORKERS.
for the protection of life and property AMI per
sonal rights that ar. dcarrr than either. Every
man who voted for Cleveland and Democracy IA
1s.r whether hc merely wished TO favor
friend or 10 assert The power 81 an "lgdhlza
ton or to spite an employer. or 10 punish
party that bad not wholly pleased him. bears his
share Of The responsibility for IN" vast amount
If loss and sacrifice and suffering. III" hNghi"I
lives and ruined homes. CAUSED 10y he panic ~
the last two years.
50 every vote This year carries it, responsible
liy Nobody can b, entirely SIR" how far The
consequences ~ Oh" vote may extend. II may
elect a member II the legislature. who's" one
vote may elect a senator Of he United states.
who's, one vote may alter the policy OF the
Government for years 10 come" ~ on" vUt" did
last August II may elect an Alderman. whose
one vote may turn The scale for purity and
honor or in favor ~ vie" and crime hlackmlil.
ing and robbery in this great city. II may turn
th,. scale, for or against a member of Congress.
whose vote may pass or defeat measures of vast
importance 10 the future prosperity ~ The com
try II may pass or defeat constitutional
amendment. which will govern the action II
millions of citizens Tor many years There *
literally no limit 10 Tie responsibility Whl'h
NAV attach 10 every vote. and II several thou
sand help 10 make The ma iory one way or the
other. every one Of these voters is rs much re-
sponsbc rs if his single vote had turned The
scale
When men appeal To- the citizen To east his
vote rs the most solemn and sacred of all his
duties not Ut the bchcst OF Il club or faction or
Marty. no, for the benefit Of n favored leader or
friend. not because Of any personal like or dlS
like but as trustee for sixty nine millions OF
Americans living, and many hundred millions
vet 10 come they have right on their side. II
is nothing but II crime 10 use this most sacred
trust for the qualification Of any personal in
tercst or feeling. Every man Is bound 10 form
an opinion whether the continued rule Of Tam
many robbers ana blackmallcrS will he good
for the people of This city. and in its example
aud farreaching Influence good for the people
Of the country. Every man is bound 10 have
distinct opinion whether the votc-stealers who
acted with Maynard ought 10 be- encouraged by
a victory this year Every man, after the cx
pcricncc Of the last two years. is bound 10 know
whether Democratic legislation in Congress
makes for the welfare Of wOrkingmcn and the
peace and prosperity Of the Nation. Every man
is a trustee, under the most solemn obligation
to vote for the welfare Of all according 10 his
own honest Judgment Of the results in each
alternative presented 10 him. II the millions
vote in that way this year, with a sense Of the
tremendous responsibility resting upon them, we
may be very sure that their conscicnces will
not give power 10 Tammany, 10 Hill, or To Il
Democratic ajority in Congress.