Idaho Springs siftings., 1904-10-29

- ~ ~ Jay OF kbFsts4 ire American
EepGb3r to-day finds its young man
hood is most valuable asset. Ii - dn4tc
natural FOR both Of the great political
parties 90 make a maximum effort 10 in
suenee the first vote Of the young men
Of the country. The young man is now
one OF the mast important and mos;
sought individuals IA the Republic. II Is
not beyond the range OF pro5a blilty that
these first voters may hold the balanc.
OF power and actually decide the com
iaE eleeu9a.
IL is rot always easy 70 reckon the
strength OF this vote accurately, beure
n offers a fertile hel1 FOR speculation.
The United States census OF 1890 gives
the total male population OF the United
States IN 1900 between the ages OF II
and 20, inclusive. a. @1J9 sol. La other
words, in round numbers, three million
voter. These young mcn being AZ that
age Mt that tiiae. ar. all now eligible 60
cast their hrsG vote for President In
addition, many thonsaud yOung men as
emigvanis baye become citizens Of the
United States since that time. OF course
Q number have also died. IL may not be
very far wrong to conclude that there are
safely between three and three and
hak million fret voters now IN the Unit
ed States.
OF course. there is DO accurate way OF
knowing just how these votes are pro
rated To the different States. IL Is doubt
less true that the safely Democratic
State. and the safely Republican States
asre something Of a similar quota. and
20 that extent. Of course. the votes in
the electoral college would not be inAu-
sneed eEther way, bu; how about the
effect o, the first voters in the doubtful
States? Past sxperisnc. shows that IN
these States an Increased suffrage 10 IA
sor of one party or the Other from
90 per cent. may change the results
and mark defeat or victory for either
party.
IL Is this hrsf vote In doubtful States
chat Is OF supreme importance. How will
IL bs cast For Democracy, nesation-
Q policy destructive OF ali that il good
sr,.I Obstructive O, all that j. progressive.
or shall IL be for Roosevelt and Fair
banks. who represe3; the great construe-
dive business league In America known
as the Republican par,y1
Situation and Young Mans Dnty.
IL il should so happen tha; two FAM
flies of distinction should ssen 10 lay
equal claim to any young man. and II II
should be left TO him to decide as 20
which one b. might cast his LOT with. he
would naturally look into the history OF
both families inteiliEenily. diligently and
thoroughly. His pride and seif7fnterest
would compel him TO cast bis lot with
che one that showed the highest self
respect. she greatest personal and na-
sional pride, the best ability for DONG
things that ought 10 be done, calculated
60 benefit mankind; aud above all. the
- . \. 49, a. ksara
and aspiration. with a view Of meeting
I'll new conditions nobly and complete
ly as they might arise.
II is the duty Of every young Au1eri-
can to perform this duty thoroughly in
connection with the two great political
parties thHt are asking his first vote on
th. issues Of the present campaign. He
will fiBd he work not only Instructive.
but II he investigates the records thor
onEhly, there cannot se a shadow or n
doubs in his mind. after he has finished
che Investigation. rs to which way his
dnty may lie. lie should diyest himself
of hereditary bias and inclipatiuus. he
shoud attempt % Lift himself out Of his
immediate or present surroundings and
divorce himself. for the nonce. from all
social or family ties and luycstiEate the
thing for himself
Parting Of the ways.
This duty Is one of the weiEhties;
that the generations OF progress and the
blood OF his ancestors have made in
cnnhent upon him. II he cutters upon il
wrongly, be not only stukiGes his own
usefulness and injects a germ u partial
failure into his own life. bat he fails mos;
nisera bly, 10 measure up to one Of the
hghes; opportunities ever yonchsafed to
mankind. IL is now too late in this pro-
gressive age TO allow personal preference
any inclination OF our ancestors or
Immediate forefathers 10 influence us in
q work which will affect the dcs:inies
Of mankind. Il is a sacred privilege aud
an ae; which affects nearly a hundred
million people Is there not cause FOR
panse7
Then as Americans, as the inheritors
OF all that is glorious aud 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
10 his pride. his patriotism. his sense of
duty or his idea Of intelligent citizenship?
All any sane aud conservatively- minded
young man has to do is TO simply COM
pare the records of the two parties for
the last bali century. What does he
hndg He hnds that at every tnrn one
has been progressive. constructive. pafri-
otie; working for the general interests
and welfare of humanity. The other
has been a party OF negafion. predicting
calamity, crying despair and p-opheSying
wreck and ruin of the government: stand
Ing uniformly and perpetually as an oh
stacle and obstruction TO 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 asiAine acts and obstruction
tactics OF the party of slavery. State
rights. secession, aBti-expansion. free
trnde and free silver. From the inmor-