The Red Cloud chief., 1897-06-04

potent force, the ballot, can shake the
foundation of u government like ours
to the bottom or can elevate II To the
highest pinnacle Of human conception,
until IL reaches = perfection unknown
to the greatest government of antiquity.
He can make his country, his gov.
eminent and It's institutions a cherished
ideal, or from selfshness can make IL
the most wretched place In the uni
verse, wreaking with political rotten
nessand d~ecaying institutions.
Oh, that we could Danish selfishness
from the human heart and put In its
place self love and charity! The sci.
ence Of human government would be u
thing of the past and every man would
do his duty to his country and his God.
The state Of human government reach
ed In this nineteenth century would be
so great that the philosophers and
wise men Of the future would stand
amazed I the great stride made in
civilization.
But by the advent Of mans sin, we
must do battle against these lower i'm.
pulses, and ever be on u guard
against them as mans lower nature Is
continually striving for mastery, es.
pecially in a country where every man
Is allowed the rights of suffrage. 1t is
true in national affairs as in others,
] that the more rights a man has, the
greater his responsibility, and in no
other government on the face Of tie
earth is SO much power intrusted to a
voter of q country as in the United
States, therefore his responsibility Is
greatest. In the first place he should
see that good men are nominated and
elected to office.
TODD this he should attend the pri,
maries and see that upright men are
delegates 10 the county convention
because II dishonest men are sent from
town caucus, dishonest men will be in
the successive conventions, for rs the
old adage goes Like begets like"
The easiest way to check an evil Il
never permit it to start, il it does tn,
voter should ever be ready to check !,
with his ballot. Not only should h,
see clean men elected to office, but h,
: should study the principles they advo
. cate. Important questions are arising
all the time, soone or later to be set
, tied by the ballot. At one time tn,
/ tariff, at another time the money ques
| ton demands recognition. The patrio
studies these questions as should ev
eryOne holding right Of franchise an,
votes rs he thinks will best benefit him
self, his couRtry, and further the In
terests Of his posterity. One Of til,
: greatest evils endangering u countr,
is giving the right Of franchise to for
. eigners who have been here only
f.. short time. They do not understan,
. the principles Of our government, tn,
r questions sefore the people for settle
ment, aud q great many times not eve,
our language, and nearly always thei
sympsthies are with their fatherland
Such q condition Of affairs should b'
adjusted at once. Another dangerous
, element is the indifferent voter. W,
! have Joseph Addison as authority fOI
. saying, There is no greater sigl
of general decay in virtue in a nation
than a want Of zeal in ITS inhabitant
Tor the good of their country" Will
' the right of franchise under so great
, government rs ours, with civil and re
iigious rights, among as enlightened
people, does there u man live such ~
Z Scott describes;
breaths there II man with soul 80 dead,
Who never to himself has said.
This II my own, my native land.
| whose heart hath ne'er within him burned
, As home HE footsteps he hath turned,
From wandering on a foreign straad
, " sach there be, 20 mark HIM well,
$ For him no rapmres minstrel swell,
High though his titles, proud has name,
, boundless his wealth Ms wish can claim.
Despite those titles, power or pelf,
Living shall forfeit fair renown,
3 And doubly dying shall 20 down.,
To vile dust, from whence he sprung,
Unwept, unhonored and unsung.
"He Who Gathers Roses, Must Not Fear
Thorns."
~ EDNA HENDERSON.
NH