The San Francisco call., 1896-06-27
REGISTER AND ORGANIZE.

The time has come for all Republicans,
for all protectionists, for all friends OF
American industry, to prepare for the
coming campaign by putting themselves
i'll position where they can be helpful
to the party and the cause from the hrst
stage of the canvass to the last. 1t IS OF
advantage to the party that as many men
as possible shall enroll themselves IN the
Republican clubs and take part in the
work of the canvass, and it is OF the high
est importance that every member OF the
party should register so as to be able to
vote. The duties of Republicans at this
time, therefore, can be summed up in the
phrase, Register and organize"
Every Republican should register as
soon as he can find time to go to the regis
tration office, and if he cannot find that
time very soon he should take it even at
the cost of some other occupation. There
can be no voting without registration. If
a man does not register he disfranchises
himself-deprives himself by his own
negligence of the rights of citizenship and
puts himself on level with aliens, who
have no voice in the selection of public of
ficials or in determining the course ofpub-
lie policies. The time allowed for regis
tration and the provisions for registering
are ample, provided citizens will attend
to it. If any one, however, delays, hesi-
tates ard postpones the performance OF
the duty, he may be too late, and find him.
self debarred from the privilege of voting
when election day comes round.
Under the law enacted by the last Legls-
lature registration begins 16o days before
the general election and continues for sew
enty-five days. 1t began at the City Hall
on May q and will end August 3. The
fifth day of precinct registration will close
August and that will be the end. In this
it will be seen that ample time is given for
all. 1t must be borne in mind, however,
that in the later days there will be rush
at the registration office, and consequently
the duty can be most easily performed by
being performed promptly.
Having registered his name and secured
the right OF voting, the next step of the
Republican should be to join some club
convenient and congenial to him, and
make ready to take an active part in the
campaign. Party organization is at all times
essential to party success but it was never
more so than at this time. Democracy
alone, Populism alone, or free Silverism
alone would be powerless against the pop
ular sentiment demanding protection, but
there is danger that these may com bine
and by their joint and vociferous shout
ings confuse the minds of those whose po-
litical opinions are not firmly founded on
great party principles or who may be igno-
rant of the supreme Importance to all
classes of people of the immediate re-es-
tablishment OF the protective tariff.
1t will be a walk-oYer campaign if Re-
publicans perform their political duties
promptly and with ardor. 1t will be a
hard fight, however, for the stalwart and
the loyal # the general mass of the party
should be affected by any Indifference or
carelessness. This fact should inspire
every member of the party with resolve
to do his share in arousing popular enthu-
siasm and keeping the tariff issue to the
front in spite of Democrat lodges and
evasions. The real issue of the time is
that of American industry against the
world. Every American home is con.
cerned in the contest. The result will
virtually determine whether we are to have
free trade or protection for the rest of this
generation. Republicans and protection
lists should need no urging, but they must
not be too sanguine. Register and organ
iza