Rensselaer Republican, Volume 20, Number 48, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 2 August 1888 — A ‘First Voters” Club [ARTICLE]

A ‘First Voters” Club

A Rousing Meeting In the Court House Pursuant to a call published in last week’s issue of The Republican for the young ffien of Rens*selaer and vicinity, who were to have the honor of casting their first vote for our own illustrious statesman and distinguished citizen of Indiana, Hon. Benjamin for President, aud Levi P. Morton of New York, for Vice President of the United States, quite a number of young men and a few older ones met at the Couit House at eight o’clock, P. M., for the purpose of organizing a Harrison & Morton Club, to consist of those who were casting Uvct votes for President. Their patriotism was aroused by a few pieces of music given by the drum corps, very ably assisted by a large detachment from Yeoman’s martial band, at the door of the court house. The house was called to order by S. C. Irwin, who briefly stated the purpose of the meeting. Mr. Irwin was elected chairman of the meeting by unanimous vote, and F. L. Chilcote, secretary. Mr. Irwin thanked the members for the honor which they had conferred upon him, and declared his unqualified belief in the Republican cause and his firm determination to do all in his power to secure the election of Harrison & Morton.

The election of geripanent oSteers to serve during the campaign resulted as-iollows; president E. L. Hollingsworth, Vice President, S. C. Irwin, Secretary, A. H. Hopkins, and Treasurer, F. L. Chilcote, all of whom were elected by acclamation. A committee to form a constitution, rules and regulation was elected to consist of the permanent officers, and two assistants to be appointed by the President. The President appoint-! ed O. M. Daugherty and H. C. Smith Jr., as the two assistants. A meeting of the club will be held Friday evening, August 3, to consider the adoption of the constitution and rules andjreg ulations, and to discuss the character and scope of the proposed work. Mr. Irwin then [retired from, the chair, and Mr. Hollingsworth assumed the duties of permanent chairman. Mr. Hollingsworth stepped forward and delivered a very appropriate and pointed address to his young friends and fellow voters; saying in substance that it is now time for each and every one to realize thoroughly what a vote is, and that it is not as a mere slip of paper, but one of the strongest controling influences in the making of our laws and the maintenance of our government;that when each one steps up to the polls in November, and casts his first vote, he jshould know and thoroughly realize its significance; that each one should study the history of his country and the history of his party and when he voted, to vote knowingly. He also earnestly urged each and every member to make it a particular point to use every effort to make it generally known that such a club was being organized, and, if possible, to have every young voter present at the next meeting, and to do his best to work up a general good feeling among them in the cause, saying very tersely that, “In unity is strength.” Vice President S. 0. Irwin, then addressed the club, declaring his firm belief in the Republican party, and his unbounded confidence in its integrity; that Harrison and Morton were his choice for President fc and Vice President of the United States, and that he would do all In his power to secure their election: that his fondest hopes and most ardent desires in that direction, would be realized when he saw them elected and inaugurated, and saw them serve a term in those offices as successfully and faithfully as would be becoming of two such eminent statesmen, and every-man’s friends as he knew them to be; he urged every young man to realize the importance of the organization and to give to it his best efforts and unqualified assistance during the whole campaign. The club arid audience wa3 then addressed by the Secretary, A. H. Hopkins, who affirmed his belief in the firm adherence to the_ Republican party, and to the principles upon which it is founded; that the history of the Republican party and its “ predominance, was the history of the welfare of the Nation, and a successful administration of the principles to which it always has, and to which it still adheres: that the histocy_xi£_jfclte party is a history of the vindicationof the potency of the Constitution of the United States, the foundation upon which our government rests, the source from whehcecomes all oar free institu-

tions, and the means of securing to every American citizen absolute freedom from oppression; that tlie Republican party realizes thorough* ly what the Constitution of the United States is, and what it means, and that it is not, as was asserted by tlie southern states,, time and again, a mere memorandum of an agreement to be followed, or to be broken and disregarded at the will of a dissatisfied state; that the United States is one great and. glorious Republic, only divided into, sections calhd states, for mere convenience in making laws 4 ect; that, in 1860,, when tlie southern states sepeded from the Union, or. in other words, sougnt to tear down the goveru.ment, and to erect upon its crumbling rains a confederacy,, whose foundation should be human bondage, end although the democratic party, with James Buchanan as its leader could not, it was the Republican party with Abraham Lincoln as its leader that could, look into the Constitution and there find authority to coerce a rebellious state; that each member of the Club should feel that a certain degree of responsibility is rcsiing upon him ; that ere another decade has passed, they must begin to assume the stern duties of the government; that in case of another war, with whatsoever country it might chance to be, it will be the duty of the young men to bear the burden of defense; and using the illustration, that, the old soldiers who are now 50 years ;old, at the opening c* the late civil war, were only years of age; apd for these reasons, as well as many others, each one should realize that some responsibility is resting upon him as a voter.. F. L, Chilcote, treasurer of the club, then made a short address, asserting that every thing that, had been said by the speakers before him, met with his hearty approval; that his sympathy was wholly and impartially with the Republican party and its cause; that from his knowledge of the present political status of the country, he could not be other than a staunch Republican in principle, %nd that the prpmotion of the welfare of that party was but the realization of his most sanguine hopes. After the addresses by each of the o&pers, pointed and appropriate remarks were made by the following members of the Club: O. M. Daugherty, Charles Morlan, Walter Holder, T. W. Bissenden, Leslie Clark, H. K. Zimmerman, H. Robinson, E. W. Bass, H. S. Daugherty, H. C. Smith, Jr., R. Banta and George Parker; and by the following persons, wfio were present: Philip Blue, Capt. R. W. Marshall, S. E. Yeoman, E. H. Morlan,; B. B. Wilson, W. M, Wood and W, Lester. After the transaction of somp more important miscellaneous business the meeting adjourned, with three cheers for Harrison & Morton. A, H. Hopkins, Secy.