Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1911-10-20
YOUR POLITICAL DUTY.

YOUR POLITICAL DUTY
Unfortunately or fortunately, but no
matter which, every man over twenty-one
years of age, native born or naturalized.
who has been resident Of the State Of
Maryland for one year, is under the moral
obligation to assist in the administration
Of public affairs in the State and in the
county or city in which he resides, and in
recognition Of this moral obligation and
duty the Constitutions of the State and of
the United States secure unto each and
every man Of proper qualifications the in
alienable right to perform such obligation.
The average citizen thinks that the doc
trine Of a mans duty to register and to
vote is mere abstract, uncertain PROPOSE
ton, propOunded chiefly by campaign ora
tors and political editorial writers to stir
up interest and promote enthusiasm in
elections. OF course everyone knows that
the privilege exists. but very few really
appreciate the duty imposed by our cleo
tive system.
1t is just as great duty for man to
take lively interest in politics and to do
whatever lay in his power to promote good
government and economical and business
like administration of public affairs as il
is for him to give close attention to his
private interests. The State. with all its
resources, its forests, its fields, its fisheries.
its good roads and its bad roads, the money
in the State treasury. the public buildings
and even quasi interests in the railroads,
electric lighting plants, telephone service
and street railways all belong to the peo-
pie II is one vast business, a grand enter
prise, to wane and depreciate, to flourish
and progress just to the proportionate ex-
tent the people of the State take an interest
in their public affairs They are called
public affairs to distinguish them from the
enterprises in which only one or a few
private individuals are engaged, but it is
every mans business to look after anything
he is interested in. 1t is every mans
private business to do his part toward such
administration of public affairs which will
bring about reduction Of taxes, thereby
increasing his income and enhancing the
heritage Of his posterity. 1t is every mans
private business to do what he can toward
the better establishment and maintenance
of schools, to the end that his own children
and the children of his relatives may have
greater opportunities for culture and en-
lghtenment which will better equip them
for life Of usefulness and happiness.
Ii is every mans private business to do
his part toward the final selection of public
officers of such calibre and integrity that
the greatest amount of good roads will be
the result Of the expenditure Of that protion
of his money found expedient to be invested
in that class of improvement, to the end
that transportation expenses may be re-
duced, resulting in greater income to him
self, to his relatives and his neighbors,
whereby he and his relatives and neighbors
are better able to provide for their wives
and their children and others who may be
dependent upon them.
II is every mans private business TO
strive TO send to the State legislature TO
represent him and his neighbors men of
ability and determination, who will best
look after the interests of the people in
the matters Of public service corporation
regulation in order that he and his neigh
bors will derive the greatest possible adj
vantage from railroads. electric lines, tele-
phones and other enterprises Of a quasi
public nature.
II is every mans private business to see
10 il. as far as may be within his power
that administrative public servants who
are placed in Office will be conscientious,
intelligent and persistent in the discharge
of their duties of enforcing the laws Of the
land whereby he and his family and his
neighbor's family are afforded the greatest
possible justice and protection to life. lib
erty and the pursuit of happiness And SC
on without end.
The man who does not consider il his
honest duty to vote is the man who sees
his brother railroaded into Jail and does
not consider il his duty to raise hand in
protest.
The man who does not believe that he
is under obligation to take an interest in
politics is the man who sees his sons farm
sold from under his feet, owing to high taxes
lack Of public facilities and trust-manipu-
lated markets. and does not think he is
bound to exert himself to prevent IT,
The man who cares not who is elected
who cares not what political party is in
power. who cares not how the affairs Of
the State and county are administered. is
the man who cares not for himself for
his neighbors. or for his family.
The country belongs to you The State
belongs to you The county belongs to
you Take care Of il. IL is the priceless
heritage from your Creator to be preserved