Our Proud Heritage
“Close up the Work of Preparation To-Night
Leave nothing for To-Morrow but direct work. Pick out and station your men. Let there be an assigned place for every man, and, at sunrise, let every man be in his assigned place.
CHALLENGERS!…
of the right stamp-cool, prompt and fearless men – should be at their posts before a single vote is deposited. If cheating is designed, it will be begun early. no man should be challenged when he is known to be a voter where he offers to vote, but DEMAND THE OATH IN EVERY CASE OF DOUBT. Honest men will not hesistate to swear.
VOTE EARLY!
If lazy Patriots knew how much trouble they were to those who assume the active work at the Polls, they would oftener manage to give the five minutes necessary to VOTE BEFORE BREAKFAST. In hunting up one lazy man who is sure to vote right when he comes, two doubtful votes may be lost from teh want of poroper attention. Friends! If you intend to vote at all, VOTE EARLY, and
VOTE A CLEAN TICKET!
Every Republican nominee deserves the suffrage of every Republican elector. The loss of a single candidate will weaken the moral force of the Victory be achieved.
READ YOUR TICKET BEFORE YOU VOTE IT!
There are Traitors in every party. There may be in ours. If there be, by reading your Ticket, you can block their game.
DON’T BE SATISFIED WITH VOTING YOURSELF!
See if you cannot induce others to vote with you. By staying an hour at the Polls, you may save a vote which might be lost without you.
OFFER YOUR SERVICES!
There are many things which may be profitably done if men would volunteer to do them. It is an easy to hand a Ticket to a voter, but it is not easy for one or two men to detect and thwart the thousand tricks which the unprincipled often resort to. The presence of ten instead of two men at every Poll in the State would make a difference of thousands of votes. The election continues through but a single day. GIVE THAT DAY TO THE CAUSE!
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STAND AT THE POLLS ALL DAY!
It is hard work; but Remember! The principles to be vindicated tomorrow cost the Fathers a seven years war. Shut up your shop – close you store – cast aside your implements – lay down your briefs – and GIVE ONE DAY TO FREEDOM!
KEEP COOL!
The Polls are a poor place to argue. Few men will be converted to-morrow. A word of explanation may be needed in regard to some particular candidate, but every man will know, before he goes to the Polls, what ticket he intends to vote…
KEEP MOVING ALL THE TIME!
Don’t wait until the last hour to bring up delinquents. Consider every man a ‘delinquent’ who doesn’t vote before 10 o’clock.
AT THAT HOUR BEGIN TO HUNT UP VOTERS!
To do this work effectively requires discreet men. And no true Republican will deem himself above it. There should be ten active men for this work at every Poll. FRIENDS! You who are not wont to stand at the Polls from sunrise to sunset are the men for this work. OFFER YOUR SERVICES.
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Let us work unceasingly to GET OUT EVERY VOTE. If we do, THE NATION, THE STATE AND THE COUNTRY WILL BE REDEEMED!”
This appeared in the Albany Evening Journal on the night before election day in 1860. Let this be an inspiration! GO OUT AND VOTE!
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