Devils Lake inter-ocean and Devils Lake free press. (Devils Lake, Ramsey County, N.D.) 1905-1909, 1908-06-19

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fectual In such a conflict are the wea-
pons Of peace, but these weapons are
not always the first to be used.s The
remedy lies in4the proper use OF the
ballot. # We fail to apply it.; if in
their headIong pursuit 81 money the
people neglect their duty at the polls,
andzsll amely submit to the usurper and
the brutal methods of his political
agents, they must not complain when
the smanacles are permanently placed
upon their = #*a
For the@tslne being we may indulge a
feeling Of security against the power
of MONOPOLY: In the hurry of their
49, lies too many men conclude
that it is more convenient to leave po-
tics to the. politicians" Every citi-
zen should be politician. If this were
the case the hand of the corporation
and the trust would be stayed. But
when the better class of people leave
the settlement of public affairs to the
reckless and desperate elements of
the community they contribute to the
very, danger that threatens their own
welfare. y :
No better illustration Of this fact
could be cited than the incident in the
campaign in this county a few weeks
ago when this city was invaded by a
selection of political buccaneers. They
came with money and other induce
ments to, corrupt your local affairs.
Their attempts at bribery were open
and notorious. But be it said to your
credit your. leading citizens protested
against such methods, and the invad,
ers we're obliged to retire before a
victory for the right so overwhelming
as to leave no doubt about the senti-
ment of the people in Ramsey county
1t is to be regretted that this lesson
could not have been applied to other
parts of the state where corruption
of the most fragrant character was
successfully practiced.
1t may be asked by some what re
cital Of this incident has to do with
memorial day. It has everything to
do with it. But for practices such as
have cited it would not be necessary
to have memorial day. But for the
Immortality of it, for the tyranny, the
cruelty, and the brutality INDUCED in
to sustain the institution of African
slavery there would have been no civil
war, and If there had been no war
there would be no graves to decorate
in this public manner today.
The new slavery to. which l have
referred can never exist if the people
of the entire country would be as vigil
liant and as prompt to act as were the
people of this county when the invad-
ers came"to pollute your citizenry and
dictate your local affairs. It was an
act of patriotism worthy of indefinite
repetition, so far reaching in it's con.
sequences as to be entitled to distinc-
ton as deed Of heroism
Therefore, it is not too much to say
that internal conflicts, the shedding of
blood, the waste of property, the desc.
lation of our country, may be prevent
ed if the people, in a peaceful way,
will but employ the instrumentalities
consigned to them by those who made
the Declaration of Independence pos.
sible. The ceremony of Decoration
Day, beautiful in itself, inspiring
though it be, is but small compensa.
ton for the raVages resulting from the
war of the rebellion While we and
those who succeed us should never
lose interest in this recurring event
it is far more important that by our
example as citizens of this great Re.
public there should be handed down
from generation to generation rule
of action that will inspire those higher
motives necessary to. perpetuate the
sacred scheme Of government given us
by our fathers" & 4, -s5.s
r.