Evening star., 1926-04-20

sarily lay upon our people the obliga.
ton of corresponding service and
sacrifice. Citizenship in America Is
not a private enterprise but n public
function. Although / have indicated
that 1t Is my firm conviction that this
requirement will be met, it cannot be
denied that If it is not met disaster
will overtake the whole fabric of our
institutions.
Prosperity Has Perils.
Our very success and prosperity
have brought with them their own
perils. 1t cannot be denied that in the
splendor and glamour of our life the
moral sense is sometimes blinded. 1t
cannot be disputed that in too many
quarters there Is a lack OF reverence
for authority and of obedience to law.
Such occurrences are sporadic and
produce their own remedy. When so.
ciety finds that its life and property
are in peril from evildoers, 1t Is very
quick to organize its forces for it's own
protection. That cannot fail to be
done in our country. for our people as
whole are thoroughly law.abiding.
1t Is not in violence and crime that
our greatest danger lies. These evils
are SO perfectly apparent that they
very quickly arouse the moral power
of the people for their suppression. A
far more serious danger turks in the
shirking OF those responsibilities Of
citizenship where the evil may not be
so noticeable but is more insdious and
likely to be more devastating.
Urges Full Voting.
We live In q republic. A vital prin-
ciple Of that form OF government Is
representation. More and more as our
population increases it becomes neces-
sary for the people to express their
will through their duly chosen dele
gates. If we are to maintain the prin-
ciple that governments derive their
just powers from the consent OF the
governed, If we are to have any meas
ure of self.government, II the voice of
the people is to rule. II representatives
are truly to reflect the popular will
it is altogether necessary that in each
election there should be q fairly fun
participation by all the qualified
voters.
This is very far from being the case
in recent years. Since 1880 there has
been n marked increase in the tend.
ency to remain away from the polls
on the part of those entitled to vote.
But, despite a steady decline in the
vote in the five presidential elections
in the period 1S8O-1896, there was
voting average of so per cent. Out of
every 100 persons entitled to vote 80
went to the polls. For the last two
presidential elections the average has
been less than SO per cent. and that in
the face of sincere effort on the
part of numerous organizations to get
out the vote. In this effort it is re.
ported many Daughters of the Ameri-
can Revolution took part.
From it's early inception the town
meeting. featuring New England life,
an example Of pure democracy. was
generally we'll attended. Although
representative government did not
originate here. our form Of representa-
tive democracy is our own product.
The national election day was fixed
In the Constitution, and most of the
States accepted that first Tuesday
after the first Monday in November as
the day upon which the voters should
choose their local officials. Election
day in the olden times was generally
considered more or less sacred-one
to be devoted to the discharge of the
obligations of citizenship.
Many Customs Changed.
In the intervening years customs
and habits have changed Opportu-
mites for recreation have increased.
Our entire mode OF life has been re-
cast through invention, the great
growth Of cities. and for other rea-
sons. Undoubtedly. this has been re-
sponsible in no small measure for the
widespread disregard on the part Of
so many of our citizens Of the priyi-
lege and duty of voting. But back Of