The Donaldsonville chief. [volume] (Donaldsonville, La.) 1871-current, 1908-05-09
A Recaleitrant Class.

Now that the election is over there
is one class OF people who ought to
receive attention and reproof from
all good citizens: the men who do not
vote.
We seem to have strangely drifted
away from the traditions of the
fathers. They thought voting moi
only q right, privilege, but a most
binding duty. They did not feel that
man could fail IN this duty ard re.
tain his selt.respect.
Under our institutions men and
measures are passed in review from
time to time before all the people and
their opinion taken By voting. No
man eligible has right to withhold
from his fellowscitizen the benefit OF
his individual Judgment by refusing to
vote. tits high and sacred function
and he has no right to abdicate. Pub
lie opinion on this subject ought to be
stirred up and kept stirred till ii
reaches the point thatno man will dare
fail, even if he cannot be actuated By
higher motives. The more permanent
Improvement, however, must Gene
from a more wholesome public opinion
which will Undue every man with the
conscientious determination to dis.
charge his duty because he is in honor
bound TO do so.
What right has the man who does
not vote to criticize the machine, as
1t is the fashion to dub successful
party organization? AS long as human
nature is constituted as il is, men will
band together to accomplish q common
object. Nothing can be run effect
lively and no success can be attained
Ia anything without organization.
Nothing worth having can be had
without taking the trouble to 90 and
get it. The mere fact of successful or
ganization does not justify the calling
OF names. OF course, right methods
should be pursued and the departure
from right methods ought to receive
merited punishment. But mere abuse
does no good.
In the first place, every man ought
to vote and then help see to it that his
vote is properly counted and returned.
The man who through incidence or
any other motive refuses to take part
in an election cannot honestly feel
himself free from res possibility for
the consequences. He puts it into the
power OF others TO do as they please
and has forfeited his light to complain.
IT unrighteousness is done and he
knows it, then again is it his duty to
see to the punishment Of the wrong |
doers. When he fails he has again |
I srfeited his right to complain. These
things belong to every citizen. Neglect
or wrong done by one cannot pa1ifate
or excuse like conduct in another. No |
multiplication OF wrongs can ever /
make right, but when wrong is done,
the man who fails 10 vote has given Mt
least hall vote to help perpetrate lie
wrong. His esponsibility inheres In
the very nature of the situation.
What eau be done about ii? Let
every man who has an opinion ex.
press 1t and keep on expressing ii.
Then, too, it would seem publicity.
might help. How would it do irne
liately after an election to publish in
parallel columns tbs names Of those
vho voted ard those who did not#vote,
b. precincts? It woula be expensive,
yes, but it IS believed it would he
eholesome. loo.
The community is entitled 10 exerY
tote and they ought ali 70 he cast.
Don't say they won't be counted, Tor
hen agaia yon canaema yourself Ii
) your fault # they ara otcoanted
md retained correctly
The editor Of The Chief aeknasl-
dees With thanks The reeeipt of an in
italien from the Portland Rose Fes-
isal Association Of Portland. Gre
san, ia Isl the. Rose City uring tie
veek 9I festivities concurrent i ISL tils
8 lebratiun OF the Grand carnival IF