The Catholic times. [volume] (Columbus, Ohio) 1951-current, 1956-09-21

Now begins the the Arculate Candidate. From
this time to the first days of the November the office
seeker will arise with increasing frequency tell his fellow
citizens that he is willing sacrifice time and in the
interest of public service He will again and again He
will grow insstent emphatic As deepens the
great day of baloing the candidate will develop
eloquence od enough knock the off all the pumpkins
and shock the
"The Uho" the active of Pledge
and Promise and Charge Counecharge Accusation and
Denial few weeks he the benign and smiling recp
lent of his parys nomination; there's nothing mild and
humble and grateful successful nominee But he has
bucked his he is booted and spurred he off the
wars He no longer mere nominees ne an avid campaigne
Not only must he manifest and win appause he must
also show up the @ Of an % and and heap scor1
the innocent bystander is in constant peril
Among the words that explosivey from political
vote right duty privilege Sometimes such words fired with
great nacraey Just recently candidate spoke publicly Of
he voting privilege Now America there is such thing
as the voting privilege. There is only the voting right
privilege is favor extended by suspension of the law that
is of regular procedure privilege something granted But
rgnt neither grant nor favor is moral power tnat
belongs because he human being is natural
er the pursuit of happiness the right belongs to
because he is citizen is civil right Such is the right of
voting in democracy
We must make clear distinction between right the
exercise of right Thus while citizen has the right vote
here in America ne has certain conditions and requirements to-
fulfill before he exercise that right He must have attained
he must have paid his taxes he must have
formed with civil requirements such that of registering,
he must be in responsible control of his life and conduct ot
must be resident for stated time of the State or district in
which he casts his ballot Good among cenry and
proper determination of government make these requirements
necessary.
For the exercise of civil right must always be in con-
formy with the general civil welfare. Consider: if
old house. do with it what peases may give it
tear down. sell it. destroy it. Suppose decide to burn
the old house. have the right to do But find myself
prevented from exercising that right People who live in the
neghborhood have rights too and exercise right
by doing violate theirs To burn old house
endangr other houses hand that do belong
Tn aa1tho
please cannot exercise that right by burning it. Thus
the rights of in civil matters at least limited to
exercise by the rights of other taken sngy social
groups.
such conflict rights exists sure in the matter
of casting vote man is not thwarted injured by the vote
of his neghbo Only the general good the demands of order
make imperative that citizen qualify before legally casting
his ballot.
is interesting notice that among mankind a right al
involves corresponding duty duty moral obligation
have the right to vote when qualify for the exercise of that
right That is have the right to vote and the duty
cordng to the law which expresses the good of all
citizens Similarly have the right to dispose of material
property but have also the duty of disposng of without
Some rights important they themselves
ties Thus the right of to the education
of their children also nescapabe duty incumbent
ents Thus right life his duty of taking ordin
of his life not destroying exposing needessy
danger Right and duty hand hand always and sometimes
right which duty called indenuble right
that the possesor not free to give up or neglect
Sometimes indeed an inaIienabIe right taken away
from person. right liberty may taken away
punishment for serious crime BY crime man shows himself
and he dsquafies himself for the exercise of the
right liberty Here notice the distinction between
right and the exercise of right.
Citizens have the right to vote in democracy They have
their the most suitable candidate Voting is
right privilege. We should exercise it faithfully