Clarke courier. [volume] (Berryville, Va.) 1869-1997, 1906-06-06
PUBLIC SPIRIT AND INTEREST.

The strongest feature of the
speech of Hon. NJ. j. Fulton at the
closing exercises of the Berryville
High School last Wednesday was
his advice to the graduating class.
Mr.. Fulton urged his hearers to
take an interest in public education,
in politics, and in the National.
State and Local governments of
their localities. He told them
that they were growing older day
by day, and unless they advanced
they would surely go backward
and stagnate.
He warned his hearers against
social, political and personal isola-
ton, and spoke with intensity of
feeling of his own thoughts as a
schoolboy and his regrets that he
had not done greater things for the
advancement of his State and
County.
Every man and woman owes ii
TO their country and themselves
that they should take an interest
and actively participate in their
government as far as possible.
The complaint Is often made that
our officers do not properly govern
Us, or that laws are laXly enforced.
That is the direct fault of the cleo
tOrate, and, if we elect officials to
positions who will not enforce the
laws and govern us properly. it is
our own fault.
A term in general use is Gene
raj Apathy" and more crimes of
mis-governmenta and mis-represen-
tation are chargeable to him than
to any other cause.
We know of one case here in Ber-
ryville. a young man of good
character and habits, who reached
his voting age not long ago, has so
far refused to register or vote be-
cause he says that one vote more
or less will not change the result of
an election. The single votes all
90 to swell the grand total Of mil
lions that are cast each year in the
United States; and in neighboring
town recently the Mayor was elect
ed by majority of one vote.
Young man, we would say to
you:
Take an interest in your town
and county elections; register and
keep your poll taxes paid up; read
all the books and papers you can
get your hands ONO matter what
the subject, so it Is not immoral:
inquire into the personal character.
reputation and ability of every
candidate, and don't make the
mistake of electing any man to
office merely because he happens
to be good fellow" as there are
more good fellows" in the peni-
tertiary today than any other class.
probably.
Since the above was written wo
have read the address of President
Roosevelt at Portsmouth, and the
following extracts from his speech
are well worth reading, as they
refer particularly to the very 'apa-
thy" and Indifference" which we
have in mind:
Nothing is cheaper than to say
that the people are all right, but
the politicians are all wrong. AS
a matter of fact, politics, and there
fore politicians, will, in the long
run, represent faithfully either the
wishes or the Indifference of the
people. If the people are indiffer-
ent, the results are just about as
bad as if they deliberately choose
to 90 wrong. The aver
age voter needs to learn and keep
in mind the fact that if, in the last
resort. the real power is his, so i'm
the last resort the real responsible
ity is his"
If you are badly governed, it is
your own fault. Remember that
fact when you want to make COM
plant. Your votes or your indif-
ference did it,