New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1896-11-02
SELECTIONS FROM THE MAIL
GOOD CITIZENSHIP PAYS.
wHAr'MosT MEN HAVE ACTUALLY LOST n
MISTAKE AT THE POLLS

MISTAKE AT THE POLLS
To the Edito- Of The Tribune.
Sir: One lesson OF the Campaign which shoru a.
emphasized and brought home to every voter - :.
poor Is the fact that 1t pays to pay some at,sn,, .
politics. 1t pays to study issues II pays 70 .,. ~
time and money to advance the principles one bs,..s.
to be right. and. finally. It pays. and pays vo, =.
cast an honest' conscientious and patriotic ba,o.
Looking at 1t from the standpoint OF mere do,,,, ~.
cents. / would like to ask any workingman IN -.
country II he has not los, in wages in the las, ,.
and half years from 500 to $780, compared u,,s ~
four years under Harrison? Is there manufac,r...
who would NOT have done a much larger business ~,
Harrison been reelected instead OF Cleveland,
there farmer who would not give hundreds a, ~
lars II he could have the profits he made under r..
rison instead Of those he made under Cleveland,
There may be few favored exceptions but thsv :.
TO prove the general truth OF the situation.
1t Is not that one wishes to substitute q n..,
reason for patriotic one that attention is drawn
this phase Of politics. but 1t still gives the .v..
person feeling OF additional comfor: to know 49,,
his time toll and sacrifice pretty sure OF rev.,s
The lesson comes home equally to the kd-g!oved ma.
OF leisure or the hard-handed OF toll. This Nat,o
be neither prosperous happy unless its cor.
Is wisely directed by the though. and effor, a, ~.
people themselves. 1t is big mistake when the !. .
borer the capitalist says: 1T makes no drersn.
cknu.
that II the laborng men. whose msdrected votes 70.
elected Cleveland and inaugurated a period az ,r.
trade depression had received 500 each for III,
they would still have been losers in view az
enormous setback that has been given to b,sinsss
Let any misguided man who Is tempted by poverfv :.
sell his vote pause. He might get 81 or s. to-day
sell his manhood and patriotism with his vote h..
in the course Of years he might lose hundreds AZ S"i
Jars as the result Of misguided ballot 1t is belevss
that In this campaign, as never before, are yau
Ing as precious the right to vote. The rich man b a,
work side by side with the poor man win a yicto-
for honest government and prosperity. Fifth Ayen,,
Is as deeply Interested in prosperity is the Eas
nifty from the necessity under Government for a.
TO take interest in politics.
When We figure up the immense OF a Pre-
dental election, the millions spent for booths nr,n
ing. advertising. clerks. etc. It Is an appalling GU :
lay. But when we remember that this EXPENSE il H.,
necessary price of free government and thar nv n a
people may decide In day the course the noIic,
and progress OF the Nation for four eight or TWEEN,
years, We do not begrude the outlay Nor does ~ :.
great expense Of a campaign. including the print, +.
speakers. seem inordinately great wnen compar. i
with the great issues al stake. Divide Il up ano,
1o.OW0O people. and We are not doing too much
our country. Compare the outlay with the increas
misSoyernment. or compare 1t with the certain r.
crease In exports. manufacturers and wOrkingmen's
earnings that are TO come in the next four years
II Is TO be hoped therefore, that no one viii 81
politics doesn't pay. or that II does not paw 10 TAX
an interest in politics ard spend time and money r.
the sake OF principle and patriotism To the worl;
ingman, especially, et us say: Cling to your ballo:
Cast II fearlessly according TO your best conycfiom
OF duty Let no one buy IL from you or cajole yo,
into low estimate OF your right to vote Tor VAN
best man In the land" G n n
Springdale. Conn, Oct 80 1896.