Martinsburg herald. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1881-1920, 1900-09-22
FOR FIRST VOTERS.
A GREAT RESPONSIBILITY RESTS
UPON THEM.
Warned to beware of the False Is
sues Invented by the Democrats.
Seek TO Blind the People by Imag-
mary Dangers.

sues Invented by the Democrats.
Seek TO blind the People by Imag-
mary Dangers.
The census of 1890 shows that there
were in the United States in that year
2.516,043 young men of the ages of II
to "a, inclusive. Considering the in
crease in population during the last
decade, 1t is safe to say that on the 9th
of next November at least 100000
young men will be eligible to cast their
first presidential votes. When we re-
member that President McKinley's plu-
rality, with single exception the lar
gest ever given to president, was
COL, S54 and when we consider the fact
that young men are not bound by party
ties, it appears how great and how de-
cisive is to be the influence of the first
voters upon the result of the struggle
now in progress.
In every crisis of our history the
numbers, the freedom from traditional
prejudice and the enthusiasm OF cur
young men have been the determining
factors in the final result. We have
now reached another great crisis in our
national development. and once more
the young men should come actively to
the front. Four years ago a coterie of
men obtained control of the Democrat
ic party, thrust aside the great, con-
servative leaders who had led them to
victory In the past and promulgated
platform filed with seductive appeals
to class prejudice and to the cupidity
of human nature - a platform that
struck at the independence of the jul
dietary and demanded that we should
sacrifice out national honor by debas-
ing the currency, Those leaders were
repudiated by the people, and as each
succeeding year has given additional
proof of the absurdity and falsity OF
their arguments the popular contempt
for them has increased. Realizing this,
they know that their only hope for sue
cess in the present campaign lies in
their talking so persistently upon other
questions that the people shall forget
that they are the same men who led
the assault upon our prosperity and ma
tional honor in 1896.
Driven by this necessity they have
invented number of sham issues.
among which Imperialism" is declar-
ed to be paramount Nothing could
Illustrate more forcibly the straits in
which they find themselves. During
the course of war In the declara-
ton of which the representatives of
all parties united we overthrow the
dominion of Spain in the Philippine Is
lands. Having taken this step we be-
came responsible for the results that
should follow. When we had freed
the people from their foreign Cypress
ors, we could not deliver them over
to anarchy or to the irresponsible tyr
amy of local despots. In the fulfill
ment of a sacred obligation, therefore
we have entered upon the work Of
establishing peace, order and good gov
eminent in these islands that we may
give to their people the conditions of a
happier existence. This is practical
and honest course of action that any
party in power would be compelled to
take or stand before the world convict
ed of incompetency and cowardice.
But Notwithstanding these plain facts
Democratic leaders assume that we
have entered upon career of ruthless
foreign conquest with a view to build
ing up a vast colonial system. Upon
this false assumption they erect the
hobgoblin of Imperialism and proceed
to launch against II their solemn phi
lfppics.
Another product of their invention is
"milltarism." That we might meet
the responsibilities that came to us as
a result of our own voluntary action In
declaring war upon Spain, the size OF
our army has been slightly increased.
Subsequent events In China have prov
ed that such a step is also necessary IL
we are to protect our representatives