The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1904-10-07

Evening Post contains the following ar
ticle by Grover Cleveland, entitled WHY
a Young Man Should Vote the Demo-
cratic Ticket"
We often hear It said that our gov
crnment Is a government by party. This
Is absolutely true when construed to mean
that parties are the agencies through
Which tho popular will is effectively made
known. 1t is also true in a general way
when 1t signifies that through the instru-
inentalitics OF parties certain govern
mental measures are naugurated and
certain principles made the guides of gov.
ernmental action. Thus considered, party
membership and the existence Of party
oiEanzaticns are not only legitimate
but seem 20 be actually necessary to the
sorei;lt"n OF the machinery of our gov
crnnient With this view or craftsmanship
IN mind 1t has always appeared to me
that a young man Is engaged In serious
business when In the first stages s, OF ma "a.
tnre citizenshp he Is s, considering !, n MS
fcholecpof the party to which he VIII at
tach himself. cannot escape the feel
ing that the final determination Of these
modified REIMBURSEMENT Of his freedom
of Judgment. and his subsequent subju-
cation to Influences which dilute indc-
Mn The co 81 pah KY
view OF political subjects and give to his
consderat ion of public affairs Z, leading
whichft VIII be hard entirely to shake
to the unescTi-able Influence OF purity
comradeship. md perhaps more to the
blindinr zeal that grows out Of party
added the pride. 50 much part Of
human nature that 1t must be reckoned
with, and SO nearly. related to high man
5liness that It can hardly be condemned.
Nt1tts no entyn
conscience. refuses TO appear disloyal
TO party enlistment. FL ss. rs 4
First Step Important. i4
II is. therefore. on every account !of
voter should not make a false start and
that III settling upon his party member.
ship he should not only avail himse OF /.
Judgment still at his command. but
gent apprehension of national conditions
and. studlous examination q ne prl.-s
to his entrance and all this should be
supplemented by the guidance of pure
conscience and an untarnished patriot
the intent Of our scheme OF government
when 1t was delivered into the keeping
OF the nations voting citizenship, that
fully and patriotealiy regard his suf-
frage as demanding of him a service to !
his country as serious and as vital as
that rendered in war for its defense.
his earnest investigation and the influ-
ence Of ielcva ting sen timent Will make !
him a dutiful and useful party man.
1t would be a happy thing for the nation
II our political parties WerG altogether |
thus constituted, and If every. voter COM
stantly had In his mind IA lively sense $of
personal Responsibility for. the proper !,
exercise Of his suffrage. We all know,
however. that in point OF fact political
organizations are Very largely composed
of those who have drifted into their
without the least independent
lated to the general welfare ofithe coun-5
try and thespeoples needs. Many of these
have no better reason for belonging to
one party Instead of another than the
fact that their fathers belonged there
Relationship by the influence of social
intmacies or by mere whim and caprice, /
and sometimes by the frivolous and child
ish expectations of belonging to the win
more dangerous than all the rest. acquire
party membership with the deliberate
Of securing 9unearned individual |
rewards and business advantages.
To the extent that such elements are |
found within the lines Of any party, 1t
tons of pa triotic citizenship. and be-
comes Il menace to the underlying prin-t
ciple Of our popular rule. t Is because '
these elements are so prevalent In par-il
is more than ever necessary that the class |
Of sober and patriotic voters who join /
political parties for the purpose of pro-
noting their country's veal, should be \
increased and In every way strengthened Il
! is in this manner only that selfishness t
good can be checked within parties and |
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