Atlanta tri-weekly journal. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1920-19??, 1920-07-03
The Country Home
TEE PATR1oT-AT HIS BEST
BY MRS. w. I'll. FELTON,

TEE PATRIOT-AT Els BEST
1t is we'll understood that Ameri-
| cans can be relied upon to defend
| their country-in time of invasion
| from outsiders-but the citizen who
| stands firm in a time of bad laws
and unfaithful public servants~is
| the one that the country needs-to
keep the ship of state on an even
keel when the storm is beating hard
| and the rocks are in plain view.
I have not patience with a man
who then goes into a dust hole and
pulls the hole in with him. Only
the other day I heard a fulI-grown
man with a fullgrown son listenicg
to the conversation. use the follow
ing words: 81 have made up my mind
not to vote any more. The bad men
of this country have got in possess
sion and I am determined to let the
voting proposition go by because it
is rotten and unjust"
I could not resist the temptation to
say: you are Sinking your own
duty and I am more than sorry to
have you tell me you have been COM
pletely whipped by bad men and
rotten politicians"
1 could have said further (but did
not): "Such as you are should be
disfranchised, because you have the
remedy at hand and are too lazy or
too cowardly, or too Indifferent to
stroying your liberties and mine"
Nobody is forced to vote in this
country, either men or women, but
there should be a law that would
require the qualified voters to give
reason or an excuse when such
shirker or Stacker is allowed to pro-
test against evil-doers and prefers
not to stand up in his place and
refuses to be counted.
What Does Vote Stand For?
Tyo ohn Of L..
mighty COD this country-these
United States-have been allowed to
show to the world that freedom is a
blessing to all the people. The only
way we can select II ruler is by go
ing to the ballot box on stated oc-
casion and vote for qualified per-
sons to represent our interests when
laws are made, to tax us for public
uses, and to defend us, when our
lives and property are in danger.
1t was presumed by our forefath-
ers that we were obliged to employ
such representatives in state and ma
tional legislation. 1t was assumed
likewise that every voter would pe
careful in such careful in such selec-
ton. Therefore, there were no penal
ties set forth to prosecute and pun
ish the slackers or the strikers in
this voting business.
Just for a moment analyze the de-
cision of the man I here have noticed,
WHO CODY lHlOIlliSu me- llctf NOSNN
my last time. I am sick of the peo--
rle who are elected. retire and
quit"
The laws of the land are thus
turned over to the self-seeker and
the corrupt representatives who nave
obtained a clear path to the destruc-
ton of free government by the slack
ers and shirkers among US.
Our republican form of government
is the wonder of the down-trodden
the only republic that has survived
so long in the history of the world.
1t relieves us of cars, kings, en-
perors and crowned tyrants on a
throne. 1t is a great wonder-Work-
ing institution, where a poor boy can
rise to the presidency if he has the
qualities of a wise leader In ms
| makeup.
Oh, the pity of it, when well-edu-
Gated, well-situated and intelligent
voters can stand up and say: II m
done with voting. l will never vote
| again so long as 1 live" What
| tragedy. What a walking he is by
his own confession.
With the medicine in his hand 10
| cure his ailment he throws 1t away.
| and shows himself to be unworthy OF
| the privilege of being free man IN
| his own country!
We need a revival of public interest
! in this country of ours. we need
| preachers who can discuss the bene-
| fits of civic Righteousness. Again L
| say, such people should be dlsfran-
| chised for failing to do their duty
| aS citizens