REGISTER! REGISTER! REGISTER!

New Zealand Tablet, Volume XXIII, Issue 47, 20 March 1896, Page 17

REGISTER! REGISTER! REGISTER!

fO^E time has elapsed since the last general election, and on looking through the roll it will be seen that many Catholics whose names should be on the list of voters are not to be found. There must be a large number of young; people who were not of age last time but now could be enrolled. These Catholic young men and young woaien should lose no time in having thenuelves registered Then again, there are some, no doubt, whose names have been struck off because they were unable to vote at the last election. These should have their names re.necribed. The work of registration is being actively pushed on by various political

bodies. Catholics who are fighting for a great principle and in a sacred cause should leave no stone unturned in the united effort to secure justice. They should make the phalanx as large as possible, then let " uniform action and real solidarity " be the motto. We have met many who, on election day, when the contest was keen, bitterly regretted that they had not a vote. A few minutes' walk to tbe registration office, a few lines filled in, a signature duly witnessed, and the thing is done. We earnestly recommend all who are on the roll to interest themselves in the important matter of increasing the number of Catholic voters. An attempt is being made to discredit the Catholic vote, and to break up the solidarity on the education queston of the Catholic people. There are those who say " let the question alone "—"" — " we have not succeeded "—"" — " we won't succeed "— " Why risk failure again in returning our man." The discouragement of so-called friends is often more damaging than the open attacks of determined foes. Crokers, lovers of ignoble peace, advocates of inactivity, constitute an element that has to be faced in every agitation for right. Crokers in the Home Rule question have been legion . If O'Connbll listened to the pessimists of his day, Catholic emancipation would not have been gained. Not to advance means, in the cause of Catholic education, to go back. We must not be advised by our enemies, who, at election times, attempt to |soothe with fair words, while all the time they hare the heel of tyranny on our necks.