Evening Republican, Volume 20, Number 198, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 18 August 1916 — Will H. Hays’ Address .to Young Indiana Republicans.. [ARTICLE]

Will H. Hays’ Address .to Young Indiana Republicans..

To the young men of Indiana I appeal for a larger interest in the politics of the country. The young men of today are the burden-bearers of tomorrow. On the shoulders of the young voters will very soon rest governmental problems measured only by \hc vastness of the country’s future. These difficulties must be met. This evolution is inevitable. Young men are trained to enter, and entering, strive to increase their proficiency in the professions, their ability as artisans and their succeS? in business.

This is pre-eminently proper. Everv right-minded young man will try to be one in the total of the world’s activities, to be one in the quotient of being—and to be as near the left side of the number as possible. Yet in their multiplex activities, in all their efforts, really to be and do, many young men neglect the one prime duty and privilege of their soy-\ ereign citizenship, the richest heritage to which they are born and the one real basic responsibility of their entire temporal welfare. This is to qualify ourselves to understand the governmental affairs of our state and nation, and, qualified, then to participate therein with an increasing interest and thoroughness as our knowledge broadens and our experience deepens. Upon the wise solution of these problems and the successful administration of these affairs rests the ultimate consummation of all our hopes and aspirations—all contingent upon the preservation in its fulness of this glorious liberty which is now ours and which was obtained at a cost to us almost inconceivable. In a national crisis, as if by magic, the blood in the veins of young Americans transforms boys into bayonets, playfellows into patriots, dapper dandies into destroying dreadnoughts and dancing bumpkins into Damascus blades —all soldiers whom the world may well fear. And we thank the God of our fathers that this is so. But in times of Jjcace, today, now, our duty is as imperative. The forces of evil work continuously, and neglect is as wrong as wilful evil. To the young men of Indiana I appeal: To take part in the governing of yourselves is your privilege; to aid in making this governing right is your duty. The only effective way you can exercise this privilege and perform this duty is by participation in the politics of your community. Become interested in politics. What we need mire than all else in this country is an~increased participation by the good citizens of the country in the actual politics of the nation. Perform your duty of citizenship in time of peace as you would in time of war. To which party you may now be inclined is of less importance than that you seek for the truth, and, finding it, act, and then act continually. I have an absolute conviction that if the citizens of the country interest themselves sufficiently in the politics of the nation, the right principles will be practiced and able and conscientious candidates elected. Be not influenced by prejudice nor moved by passion. Study the histories of the great parties; see what they have accomplished in the past and what they promise for the future, and then, in every instance, make up your mind and act accordingly. And let us be certain that we “join ourselves to no party that does not follow the flag and keep step to the music of the Union.”

Personally, after the most conscientious study, I became convinced that the republican party has been the most potent paver of practical progression ever devised by man; that it has formulated the statutes, written the great laws, advanced the theories and carried out the great principles that have made this country “the mystery of the ages, the mightiest miracle of time.” The republican party is the party of the future and shall continue to be the one agency in this country to apply to new conditions the wisdom of experience and the efficacy of honest, zealous service. Its past performance of 50 years is the guarantee of its future fulfillment. The party of Abraham Lincoln can be trusted now “to be true even as he was true” to the rights of men and their full freedom. And so to the young men in Indiana I appeal: First, io actively interest yourselves in the affairs of some party; and, second, and most earnestly and sincerely, I urge you to join our fighting force and become a potent part of this great republican party of protection and prosperity, with an absolutely equal voice and full participation in the management of the party’s affairs with every other man in the party. And this I ask for a purpose far greater than the success of the party—for the ultimate goal “that no harm shall come to the republic.” “Sincerely yours WILL H. HAYS, Chairman Indiana Republican State Central Committee.