Cord Byrd: “I want to compliment him, and I do compliment the chairman for his patience, for his dogged determination, and for his…”

“I want to compliment him, and I do compliment the chairman for his patience, for his dogged determination, and for his far-seeing vision in pursuing and pressing on to the end this cause for which he has been studying, speaking, and fighting for so long. It has an importance that goes far beyond the surface. This, we often hear, is a democracy. It is a Republic. We say that clearly each time we ``pledge allegiance to the Flag of the United States of America and to the Republic for which it stands.'' We have democratic principles under a republican form of government. The importance of encouraging and persuading and leading the citizens of the country to vote--what a great duty it is of each citizen to vote his or her sentiments. And what a sad commentary on this Republic, whose people have been so far blessed beyond the peoples of any other nation, and then to think that so few, relatively speaking, of the American people bother--bother--to go to the polls and exercise their duty at the polls. It is a sad commentary on the American people.”