LECTURE 2] NEVER NEGLECT TO VOTE. 305 lence, the mark of a dormant and feeble mind. You are not responsible for the errors of others, though mobs or parties believe them, until you adopt them as your own. Neither are you to be credited with the truths of others, unless they commend themselves as truths to your own reason. But you ARE responsible for your acts, whether performed merely to please another, or because you consciously choose to aet out your own convictions. This responsibility is to God, to your own conscience, to your family, your friends, and your country. Why should you betray all these by the cowardly surrender of your right of free opinion to those who would use you for their own purposes? Personal independence of thought and character is the most striking characteristic of the true American citizen. Be sure you are right before you act: you will not then have to yield to others the credit due to your own good sense, nor be liable to the charge of vacillation or subserviency. NEVER NEGLECT TO: VOTE. 383. As the law is designed for the punishment of evil men, while good men may live without being conscious of its existence, so knaves are continually trying to get possession of the Government, which is apt to be neglected by those who neither fear its power, nor covet its offices. To such an extent has this evil grown in our country, that the phrase "the filthy pool of politics" has become a popular by-word, expressing the idea that to take an active part in political affairs is to throw aside respectability. No greater misfortune could have befallen our institutions than such a conviction in the public mind. What! Shall our law-makers be chosen only from among the law-breake of our rights be entrusted to igno criminals be sent to the Capital Prison? Shall only sharpers an candidates for office; thieves and lot-box; corrupt partisans sell or Courts? Shall the jury be packe Executive join hands with plund revel in the public spoils? 384. That such abuses of our ally show themselves, is due t best citizens neglect to take pa ventions, to attend the primaries tions. Let not this political CRI charge. See that you attend every and election where your voice or you turn the scale in favor of good men ples. Let not the combinations of cians succeed. Expose their villany a Do your utmost to secure the nomin of trustworthy candidates for every o be said that for want of your vote was triumphant, or the wrong res Liberty cannot be preserved merely by Constitutions are not self-executing. ships: no matter how strong and well no use without a competent crew. And unskillful ship's company, though ship shortest voyage, will wreck the finest ambitious and corrupt public officers struction of the liberties of the nation all your publie the law-breakers? Shall the buses of our system do occas ves, is due to the fact that t to take part in political e primaries, and vote ate olitical CRIME be laid to ttend every meeting, conve voice or your vote may be f good men and sound pr inations of self-seeking p eir villany and double deal the nomination and electi for every office. Let it your vote the worst ticke vrong resolution adopte 1 merely by the written la executing. They are and well built, they are d rew. And as a drunken ough shipped for only the the finest vessel; so officers make speedy de nation. Never forget is Iternal vigilance is the 四 LECTURE III. THE OFFICE SHOULD SEEK THE MAN, AND NOT THE MAN OFFICE. 385. In Sec. 200, you may recall this passage: have the whole community from which to select our o holders; consequently, it must be the fault of the p themselves if any but the best men are selected for of Now, who are the best men to be trusted with of Who but those who are naturally and soci prominent by reason of their talents, educat patriotism, public spirit, correct business pri ples, good habits, and experience in public and vate affairs? You will find few men who posses these good qualities, but there are always enoug them to fill the offices in any town, city or State. W you find a man whom you can trust in your private business, THAT is the man who car trusted with public interests. In the choic Judges you will also, of course, select some one lea in the law. In selecting Legislators, the same prin should apply; for you might as well go to a carpent make you a pair of boots, as to expect anything but chievous legislation from men totally ignorant of work of law-making. And in filling all offices, nomi ing conventions should seek the best man for public employment, asking concerning him only t questions: Is he honest? Is he capable? Is he best man for the place? 386. But when you observe any individual noeuvering to carry a nomination or election in own favor, especially by the use of money promises, ALWAYS VOTE AGAINST HIM! dees such a man sook office? To it to make DUTIES OF THE No man who cannot earn a livi 387. If none of these motives are 388. Whoever, therefor, nominate office of trust or profit, especially i ently determined to succeed by fair and is assisted by men of questiona should invariably be voted down minded citizens cannot earn a living out of offi it. Is it from love of powe people who love power for ita he very persons who cannot be es of republicans. Americs cers, in her public places. Ist ction? There is no honor int ffice. Such manner of obtaini e expense of the honor with otherwise be regarded. I seat commands no respect fr love of notoriety? The aves to this failing never be brains are too light for the during fame. se motives are attributable b remain but one other, and this His object must be to m of the people-by the sal Never vote for such a sible circumstances! Wh on the word of a perjure ploy a thief as your cashie rivate watchman, then rust the public interests ffice-seeker! -, nominates himself to specially if he be appe ed by fair means or fou questionable reputation ed down by all high ves of such a candidate Honest. These wait until the public calls for them. T fathers of our country did not pack conventions, bri delegations, or buy the press to secure their own el tions. They waited till the office sought the ma When we peruse the illustrious names in our early histo can we not recognize the kind of men the offices soug Let it be the duty of your generation to prove the repu lic still superior to monarchy, by always seeking out a promoting such citizens as the nation may justly delig to honor. Remember that the offices under our form government were not created to gratify the ambition rapacity of individuals. They were designed for the e ployment of the best talent obtainable for the service of t sovereign people. When the interests of the office-holders come paramount to those of the public, then republicanis must be acknowledged a failure. JURY DUTY, 389. You will occasionally be called on as a citizen serve on the jury, and when summoned you will be ver apt to find it inconvenient to attend. You will ofte begrudge the loss of time and absence from your bus ness which this duty demands at your hands, and yo will therefore get excused from it if you possibly ca But how will this disposition on your part affect th administration of justice? It is the good citizens, no bad ones, who are always busy. Suppose all the goo men were to be released from the jury on such ground does it not follow either that the trial by jury must b abolished, or else that the idle, the dissolute, who ma be the friends or even partners of indicted criminals, of corrupt litigants, will find their way to the jury box there to acquit the guilty, or sell their votes to th highest hidden? Vot whe |