Imperial Valley press., 1912-10-30

b
the 4th of March, 1913. The question
shall be cast, and 1 believe that the
time has come when the obligations
of our citizenship require us to put
aside all other obligations and make
our decision as individuals l contend
that in this country to vote is not only
a privilege but a duty, and it follows
that the vote which does not express
the will of the man who casts it IS
both a violation of privilege and
failure of duty:
l. Because the operation of our gov
ernment rests on the will of the ind;-
vidual American.
>. Because on it rests not only the
safety of his person, property and priv
ilege but the welfare of his descend
ants.
5. Because it affects our business
now, and makes life easier or more
difficult for those who must follow u.
The ballot is the freeman's weapon
and its power is both immediate and
continuous.
1t was never contemplated that one
man or a party of men should override
the will of the individual and cast his
vote contrary to his judgment and the
dictates of his conscience. l contend
that in southern states not only are
the will and judgment of the indi-
vidual subverted, but that the unlaw-
full powers thus gathered up are used
against his individual interests and to
the injury of his fellow men. The wis
dom of an assembled people is not in
voked but their naked powers are eX-
ercised and by a few men whose judg
ment heretofore has not yielded the
best results. The effect in national
matters has been to relegate the South
to an insignificant if not contemplate
position; to delay development, lessen
employment, raise the rate of interest
and to add to the cost of living. Our
people have more voice in the af-
fairs of government and the choice IF
governmental policy than have those Of
the Philippines, and so far as political
power is concerned, the individual
southerner might as well be in the
Philippines as at home. He is for three
years an unconsidered nonentity, in the
fourth comm odity, and at all times a
political slave.
If you should ask of any fair mind
ed man who, at last, is responsible for
this apparent decadence of southern
manhood, ne will place the responsible
ity on the individual. And if you will
consider for a moment the remedy for
the evils which grow out of our DO
litical situation, You will perceive that
il lies in the hands only of the indi-
Nidual. There is no reform possible
|,
lend upon their ability to hold in bond
the liberty OF the individual. Reform
can only come from the individual who
gains strength and manhood enough
to break his bonds and assert his inde.
pendence. And I contend that the
manhood of this section should realize
that it has reached a limit of endur-
ancc in political matters.
I say to you, as a fellow southerner,
that whatever may have been your
fears, there is today no obstacle in the
way Of your emancipation other than
the will of the people who are using
YOU for selfish interests. If after m4-
ture reflection, you are in Judgment
end in conscience committed to the be
Eef that the doctrines expressed In the
Baltimore platform of the Democratic
party are sound and if you have conf
Gence in the unselfshness, patriotism
and ability of the candidate there Sc
lected to put them in force; if you
do not believe that his tariff views
Will bring ~ cent cotton again and
the gloom of the second Cleveland al
ministration, YOU owe it to yourself 20
vote for them. But if you distrust
these doctrines and their exponent, #
YOU believe the interests of your cou1
try may be jeopardized by them, you
owe it to your dependents, your fellow
countrymen and to manhood, to vote
against them. You viii be told by par
nsan press and partisan leaders that
YOUR state government is endangered:
the old familiar race question will b
thrust in your face; the party lash vii
descend on your shoulders and "eXpe
diency" will deafen you at every turn.
Of this you may be sure, for these
have been the reward of every man in
the South who for fifty years has dared
to think for himself and express an
opinion contrary to that of his self
appointed guardians. But the hour and
the awaiting world watch and chal
lenge you. Do you dare to back
your political opinion with your bal
lot? This is for you to decide.
Fellow countrymen, there was a tim
when the men of the South feared no
one; when the citizen was sovereign in
deed and exercised sovereign rights.
He strove under Whig or Democratic
banners at every polling place for the
right as he saw it. When the issue
seemed political slavery or war he
chose war without hesitation For
four years he fought under the blazing
sun and in the snow and sleet and in
the darkness and the storm barefoot
ed, starving, wounded and dying for
the freedom of his conscience and for
his political rights. Is it true that
The son of this man and the sons of
his fellow men are today afraid to
pack their opinions in times of peace
with their ballots? 1t has been charged
on the platform and in the press wear
after year that you fear the negro:
that IN some mysterious way this ma1
who labors by you and for you. who is
Wlthout state, municipal or military
standing, who has no part in the or
Sanlzatlons that control in any of the
departments of society, who is depend
ent on you for his daily bread, whose
every act is within your sight.
who has never within the memory cfl
most of this generation cast a vot.
IN municipal or state affairs except For
Democratic candidates, will rise, take
I possession of all you hold dear AMI
reduce you to the conditions that fol
lowed war when you were disfran-
chised; that the minority will rule tn.
majority, that ignorance will govern
wisdom, and that behind every move
ment to bring southern manhood into
independence turks a conspiracy to fur
ther enslave it. You have been adyer-
used for a generation as towards, not
by your political opponents, not by
your northern neighbors, but by your
so thern leaders. Your political op-
ponents know you for a brave people,
YQII ARE INVITED