Democratic Sentinel, Volume 17, Number 51, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 5 January 1894 — The Citizen Who Refuses to Vote. [ARTICLE]

The Citizen Who Refuses to Vote.

Indifference to public affairs shows itself not merely in a neglect to study thtyp and fit one’s self to give a judicious vote, but in the apathy which does not care to givo a vote when the timo arrives. It is a serious evil already in sumo countries, perinus in London, very serious in Italy, serious ondugh in tho United States, not indeed at Presidential, but at city aud othor local elections, for some leformar to, have proposed to punish with a fine the oltizen who neglects to vote, as in some old Greek city the law proclaimed penalties against tho citizen who in a sedition stood aloof, tuking neither one side nor the other. For. unhappily, it -is tho respectable, well-meaning, easygoing oitizen, as woll as the merely ignorant citizen, who is apt to bo listless. Those who have tholr private ends to sorve, their axes to grind and logs to roil, aro not indolent. I’rlvato interest spurs thorn on; and if tho socalled “good citizen,” who has no desire or aim except that good government which benefits him no more than every ono else, does not be Air himself, tho public funds may become tho plunder, and the public Interests the sport of unscrupulous adventurers,—Forum.