The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1901-11-05
THE TIMES COMPANY.
TUESDAY, NOVEMBER ). 1901.
THE bury TO VOTE.

THE DUTY TO VOTE.
The news which VIC printed in Sni-
days Times from various parts OF me
State. coupled with The statements
printed from Air. Montague and Major
Anderson, so to show that the Demo-
Gratis will win 4 sweeping victory III
Io-iiay's election. There never was any
Doubt on this point except the doubt
rs 10 whether or not Democrats would
take the trouble TO vote. The Demo-
cratis. party mas been winning easy
victories for so many years that we
arc disposed 10 take them for granted,
and it was very hard to arouse Demo-
Gratis throughout the State during the
campaign just ended.
But it will not do to take things for
granted, especially in an important
election like this. 1t is always ull-
wise to underestimate the strength of
The enemy. Oyerconfidenee has time
and again in the history of the world
brought defeat Great Britain would
have saved herself much embarrass-
ment and modification if she had not
in the beginning underestimated the
strength of tile Beers.
We have on several times of late
urged upon Democrats in Democratic
strongholds the Importance of polling
their full strength in to-day's election,
and that is our advice to-day. Rich
mond is Democratic stronghold, and
the Democrats of Richmond and vicin-
dty should turn ont to-day and vote
10 man IL for no better reason, this
should be done for its moral effect. <
is a bad habit we are falling into of
being Indifferent to important cleo
tons When only about one-half of
the Democrats Of Richmond vote, it
looks like our people take very little
interest in matters of government and
the effect is demoralizing If leading
men in the community do not take an
interest in elections and manifest no
interest in government. how can it be.
expected that others will do so?
Every election is important, and 1t IS
the bounden duty of every qualified
elector to vote whenever the polls are
open. 1t is only by this sort of vigil
ance that we can reasonably expect
to have good government and good
men in Office There has been Il great
deal OF talk in this State about boss
ism in politics. We say that wherever
there is bossism it is because Tie
voters have become Indifferent and 10
not assert their authority. All power
IN orr land is reserved TO the people,
and the people cannot be boss-ridden
unless they submit TO it.
To-day we are TO elect Il Governor. n
Melnenani-tioycrnor. IN Attorney,
General and members of the General
Assembly. The men who are to be,
elected will be the representatives of
The people III these several offices ard
will make and administer our laws for
several years TO come. The Importance
of such an election cannot be overes-
dimated, and yet there are many prom
inent men in various parts of he
State who seem to be utterly uncon-
cerned, and who in all probability will
not take the time from their business
to so to the polls and express their
sentiments. We do sincerely hope shat
this Will not be the case in Richmond.
Those who believe in good government
and who enjoy the rights and Driy:-
leges and protection Of government
and especially the men of prominence
and influence in the community, ought
to manifest +. their appreciation of the
privileges. which they enjoy by show
ing themselves at the voting places
and voting.
This is a duty which every qualified
Voter owes to himself and to the COM
munity i'll which he lives. Those men
who get up before the polls arc open
ed and SO fishing or hunting and re-
main AWAY until the polls are closed
are not good citizens and have n very
poor appreciation of the privileges Ct
citizenship, Talk about depriving such
men of their right to vote and they
are UP in arms. but from the. way that
they act a novice would suppose That
1t WAS matter of very small corse-
quence TO them whether they were
disfranchisel or not. We insist that
voting is not simply 4 Drivilege-it is
anuty.
POOR c0IINSEt