The De Soto County news. [volume] (Arcadia, Fla.) 1898-1924, 1916-01-20

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First. That he IS a white man.
Second. That he believes in the
principles Of the democratic party
Third. That he intends in good
faith to support and vote at the next
general election for all candidates, ma
tional. state and county, nominated
by the democratic party.
Fourth. That he viii not be iniu.
eued in voting for or against any can
didate by any religious test or on ac-
count Of religious belief, denomina-
ton or sect with which the candidate
IS affiliated.
Fifth. That he is not a member Of
any secret organization which at
tcmpts in any way to influence polit-
ical action or results; or the obliga-
tons and purposes Of which organi-
zaton will justify him in refusing to
support any nominee Of the party"
The Free Press I'm discussing these
resolutions under the caption Party
Suicide" says in part:
"'whom the gods would destroy
they first make mad"
"Nir. Lifelong Democrat, when you
90 10 register or to vote in the June
primary for your choice TO be the
nominees Of the democratic patry
you will first have to take this oath
That you will not be influenced in
voting for or against any candidate
by any religious test or on account
II religious belief, denomination or
sect with which the candidate is az.
filiated.' That Is one Of the tests laid
down for voting in the democratic
primary by the state democratic COM
rittcc at the meeting held in Jack
sonvilc. January G. 1916.
"What does It mean? Let's sec. It.
mean, that a candidates religion or.
lack Of religion will not influence YOU
In making up your ballot. It means
that Won must swear that neither
MormoniSm. Hinduism. Atheism. Ca
tholiclsm. Professionalism. Judaism. nor
any other religious belief or lack ~
belief viii influence. in any wise
your choice Of men who are to he,
your Officers and administer or make
your laws. II means that il an avow.
ed atheist, a man who does not be-
lioyc that there is a God. Is a cand.
date for superintendent Of education.
for instance, you must swear that
YOU are not influenced against him on
that account. 1t means that you must
swear that You would not he innu-
erced against a man simply because
h. IS n Mormon, and claims that his
religion teaches him that he may
have as many wives as he can sup
port. II means that you must swear
that II would have no influence with
you in selecting your ballot to find
men among the candidates whom you
believe owe superior allegiance to a
foreign ecclesiastical power than to
this country and its government. You
must swear that such a conviction on
your part would not influence you
NcainsH such candidates. It means
that YOU must swear that it makes
no difference with you whether your
officers worship the sun. or the moon.
or the wind, or fire, or an elephant,
or bull, or idols, or images. or
saints, or relics, or Buddha, or God
or nothing.
"ln short, 1t means that this com.
.mittee wants you to swear that you
are just an ordinary fool.
"But let us look a little deeper in
to this test Of democracy. This oath
means that you must swear that
when you vote for a man who is as
ISOLATED with you in church work that
this fact did not influence you. It
means that when a pastor votes for
one Of his church members or a priest
votes for one of his. that he must
swear that he was not influenced by
any church ties. 1t means that you
must swear when you go to vote. that
all the best and tenderest relations
and associations Of men with men are
forgotten and have no influence up
on you. 1t means that you must
swear that you can and do divest
yourself Of much Of that which Is
best and most sacred in your life
when you cast your ballot. 1t means
that you must swear to do the i'm
possible. 1t means that you must
swear a lie."