The farmer and mechanic. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 18??-19??, 1914-10-20

sion or loyalty SuCn as they mao never
felt before. 50 in this Western world
there has been a perceptible rising to
a new level Of patriotism. Peace has
her patriotism, as we'll as war. The
sacredneSS of the ballot. the king rite
by which the plain man exercises his
sovereignty and his divine right to
make his own law, is an intensified
conviction today with millions. Moth
ing could be more opportune. especial
ly as Fall elections are near in the
United States. than this topic given
for the consideration of the young
peoples societies. 1t is appropriate,
timely n essentially religious.
DR.. Robert S. Macarthur once said,
in an impassioned address on the
obligations of Christian citizenship,
that if it We're within his power, he
Would refuse the sacraments Of the
Church to the man who refused TO go
to the ballot box on election day.
Barrie has drawn a pathetic char
acter, in the Sentimental Tommy
books. Aaron Latta, the man who de
MED his manhood. Thenceforth the
Inundated creature refused to take
his place among men: he had been
false to the first duty Of his sex, and
so should be an Outcast. Somehow,
poor Aaron Latta to mind as I
contemplate h spectacle of the
good men who mail to
vote on election day. They are
emasculated patriots. In the hour of
a citizens highest duty, they have
failed to measure up. Even as Aaron
Latta went about his cooking and
houSeWlfery in an apron, SO these non
voting Americans should be denied a
voice in all h %cOunSelS Of men and
patriots. Any person who does not
~ ~ hn 40 v-o&~
Nobody is without influence. Even
a child may constrain q voter to be
true to his duty as a voter and a citi-
zen On election day. Isn't it a prom
er office Of good citizenship to strive
to assure the presence Of at least one
indifferent voter at the polls on cleo
ton day?
There is no glory or romance about
it, but as a practical bit of good citi-
zenshlp the furnishing of a carriage
or automobile. to carry i'll or infirm
voters to the polls, is quite as import
ant as holding meetings, making
speeches or adopting resolutions.
Wouldn't 1t create a new atmosphere
about a polling place if a Christian
Endeavor Society were to undertake
the transportation Of voters?
The person who sells his vote has
first sold his soul. Every bought bal
lot is a betrayal of manhood. The
spies which the nations at war in
Europe are hunting out and swiftly
Furnishing are not SO dangerous to a
nation as the traitors who traffic in
the sovereign suffrage.
So sacred is the ballot, that, as he
enters the voting booth, the Christian
may most appropriately bow his head
IN prayer and dedication ere he puts
his mark upon it. Needless to say.
no vote should be cast upon which the
favor Of Zoe cannot be asked. A
consecratlOn service over every ballot
would solve all our problems of citi-
zenship.
Machine politics. is due to the ma
chlne-llke voting Of partisans.
Inc voters upon whom the country
can count are those upon whom no
party can count.
Dlstlnctively moral issues-the tenn
perance question:. Of course. being
paramOunt-are NOWADAYS being Of.
IereO 10 the suffrage Of citizens as
never before. This makes even grayer
the of Christian citizens to
pea a tree, fearless and vigilant part
- ie eIeclIOnS. Loyalty to the causes
which are diStinctively Christian is .
paramount duty, aking ~receden Of
all past party affiliations. For we be-
long TO the party Of Christ and conn
try before we belong to any political
organization.
A humiliating fact for freemen is
the we'll known usage of political mar
ties IN counting on workers." us,1aTv
INFERIOR men, to control the vote Of
their district. Experience has shown
that one such worker" can determine
tne votes OF ten citizens His person
al solicitation, and the petty favors 10
can bestoW, outweigh all the cardinal
considerations Of citizenship, and men
vote as sheep, rather than as indie
pendent patriots. Obviously, any man
VINO votes Ito oblige a friend" is not
the sort of citizen upon whom the
country may depend. Surely it is not
TOO strong a statement to declare