The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1884-03-30
MURRAY, A MORMON MISSIONARY.

It seems now to be universally ad
nitted as general principle il
history, that whenever PEOPLE, o.
nation, devote their whole energies
in one direction, they are sure t(
make rapid growth in that diree'
ton, and attain to certain degree
Of perfection; but this growth is
always short lived, and rapid decay
Is the certain consequence. MI
merous Instances might be cited
from history in proof of this propo-
sition. Nature also affords illustra-
lions, as in the dollhouse plant,
which has every favorable condition
of growth and few obstacles to re-
move in the way OF vege.ative pro-
gress, but such plant is weak, and
the first rough wind or Chill air it
comes in contact with is sure 10
produ ,e its destruction. Soa people
must have enough of this opposition
to make them strong and hardy
The more the opposition, the
stronger will become their power of
resistance. The stone breaking
away from is parent cliff is rough
and sharp cornered, but after sea-
son Of battering and grinding from
the rude contact with its ueighbors,
It comes out smooth and rounded.
A peoples contact with opposing
forces is the very thing tfey need to
wear off the crude excres cences
which are certain to grow out and
remain unless this beneficial force
is brought to bear upon them.
In the administration of public
affairs, when officers have every
thing their own way and all con
fdence Is reposed in them by all
parties, they are sure to grow care
less, and in many cases dishonest,
but when they know that there IS
a censorship placed over them, they
will grow more attentive to their
duties, and at least will take special
pains not to be guilty of any flag
rant wrong. There is nothing like
keeping alive public spirit. How
often has this been illustrated here
at our elections? Where there is but
one ticket in the field and the other
party make no effort toward the
performance OF their duties as mem
beers of republican commemorative
how lax do We become in our vot>
ing. Two-thirds Of US stay 1t
hone, and very often we go farther
the that, even forgetting that there
was any election at all until We
take up the paper the next morn
ing. One great good that the So
called Liberal party has done, that
is when they attempt to do any,
thing at all, has been to awaken a |
greater interest in matters Of pub
lie concern, to induce the selection
of better officers, and to make those
officers more efficient in the per-
Torrance Of their duties.
This constant clash Of opinions
and interests is sure to bring about
in the end the very hes. re.
suits. Not only is this true
in regard to science but 1t is
equally applicable to political in
situations, and in no case more than
in the latter Will its beneficial re.
suits be more apparent. We would
be sorry for the Peoples party if
their opponents should cease their
warfare for any ergth of time. We
say in all sincerity. let them 60 on
IN the good work, even though the
consequences may be the reverse of
what we desire. The fact that it is
SO, however, Is our consolation and
solsce.
So in the senseless cry agsintt the
Mormon people. their enemies are
doing more for them than they ever
would do for themselves by their
own unaided efforts. Governor Muir
ray, in his own peculiar way. is ac- j.,
COM lishing more Tor the dissent. /
nation of the principles of Mormon. /
ism than a dozen of their best
missionaries could, under any cir t
cumstances. He is giving the peo- 1
ole here national notoriety which c
will find its way into the.mos re. G
note corner of the country, into the t
nut of the most ignorant peasant. $
An interest, an excitement even '
las been, and doubtless will be
aroused to know something of these Q
,emsrkable Mormons, that lie, IL /
Governor Murray's untiring efforts a