Milford chronicle., 1904-10-28

hood It's most ValuaOle asset. II Is Qute
natural for both Of The great political
parties to make a maximum effort 70 iu-
fiuence the first vote Of the young men
OF the country. The young man is now
one Of the most important and most
sought individuals in the Republic. It is
not beyond the range Of proba blity chat
these first voters may bold the balance
Of power and actually decide tbs com
ing election.
It is not always easy 70 reckon the
strength Of this vote accurately, hence
it offers a fertile Geld Tor speculation.
The United States census Of 1900 gives
the total male population Of the United
States in 1900 between the ages Of II
and 20, inclusive, as 1853. sol. In other
words, in round numbers, three million
voters These young men being at that
age at that time, are an now eligible to
cast their first vote for President. In
addition, many thousand young men as
emigrants have become citizens Of the
United States since that time. OF course
a number have also died. tt may not be
very far wrong to conclude that there are
safely between three and three and
half million first voters now in the Unit
ed States.
vi course. LueFe Is no aCtuIuAN way VA
knowing Just how these votes are pro-
rated 10 the different States. 1t is doubt
less true that the safely Democratic
States and the safely Republican States
have something of n similar quota, and
TO that extent, Of course, the votes IN
the electoral college would not be infu-
enced either way. but how about the
effect of the first voters in the doubtful
Do ehovpc that an
these States an increased suffrage in IA
vor of one party or the other from
to per cent may change the results
and mark defeat or victory for either
party.
1t is this first vote in doubtful States
that is of supreme importance. How viii
1t be cast? For Democracy, negadon-
a policy destructive of all that is good
and obstructive Of all that is progressive.
or shall it be for Roosevelt and Fair
banks, who represent the great construc-
tive business league in America known
as the Republican party?
Situation and Young Mans Duty.
If it should so happen that two fam
lilies of distinction should seem to lay
equal claim to any young man, and if it
should be left to him TO decide as TO
which one he might cast his lot with, he
would naturally look into the history OF
both families intelligently, diligently and
thoroughly. His pride and self-interest
would compel him to cast his lot with
the one that showed the highest self
respect, the greatest personal and ma
aional pride. the best ability for doing
things that ought to be done, calculated
to benefit mankind; and above all. the
Al. H. - wit nnT
and aspiration. with a view Of meeting
I'll new conditions nobly and complete
ly as they might arise.
1t is the duty Of every young Amerl'
can to perform this duty thoroughly in
connection with the two great political
parties that are asking hs first vote on
the issues Of the present campaign. He
will find the work not only instructive,
but if he investigates the records thor
oughly, there cannot Oe a shadow Of
doubt in his mind after be has finished
the investigation, as TO which way his
duty may lie. He should divest himself
Of hereditary bias and inclinations, he
should attempt TO lift himself out Of hls
immediate or present surroundings and
divorce himself. for the nonce, from all
social or family ties and investigate the
thing for himself.
Parting of the WAYS.
This duty is one Of the weightiest |
that the generations Of progress and the |
blood of his ancestors have made in /
cumbent upon him. If he enters upon il |
wrongly. he not only stultifes his own |
usefulness and injects a germ Of partial |
failure into his own life. but be fails most |
miserably to measure up to one Of the /
4. sas- D. 4
mankind 1t is now too late in this pro |
gressive age to allow personal preference |
or any inclination Of our ancestors or
immediate forefathers to influence us in |
a work which will affect the destinies
Of mankind. 1t is a sacred privilege and |
an act which affects nearly hundred !
million people. Is there not cause for
pause?
Then as Americans. as the inheritors
of all that is glorious and grand in the
history Of the greatest Republic on earth,
what can Young man find in the Demo
cratic party's record that would appeal
to his pride, his patriotism. his sense Of
duty or his idea of intelligent citizenship?
All any sane and conservatjvely minded
young man has to do is To simply com
pare the records Of the two parties for
Aue lASl Ndn century. W uak Nots nt
find? He finds that at every turn one
has been progressive. constructive. patri-
otic; working for the general interests
and welfare OF humanity. The other
has been a party Of Degation. predicting
calamity. crying despair and prophesying
wreck aud ruin of the government: stand
ing uniformly and perpetually ms All OBJ
stacle and obstruction 10 all measures
calculated for the general good:
Party Of action.
Some Of the accomplishments Of the {
Republican party may well be contrast
ed with the asinine acts and obstruction {
tactics Of the party Of slavery. State s
rights, secession, anti-expansion. free (
trade and free silver. From the immor /
cal Lincoln to the illustrious Roosevelt 5
there is nothing but one long line Of bril- Z
aiant achievements Of the Republican