Salt Lake evening Democrat. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1885-1887, 1885-03-20
POLITICAL DIFFERENCE.

IOLlllNhL DlE EhENOE.
Political difference in Utah is a greater
difference than it is elsewhere. Not
having learned politics, the majority Of
the people of this Territory deem any de-
parture from the established order OF
things a crime against society and all
nature; not to be in political uniformity
with the majority is to be morally de-
formed To this dislike of political diff
ference there is added the zest of relig-
ious hatred. To complain of even
so common a thing as rough
streets filled with rubbish and dead cats
and dogs, decaying chickens and sewer
age, is to plot treason against the city
and to be at once looked upon as "sus-
pect" To say that the man who oc-
cupies any civil Office is unfit for it, is
looked upon as a sure sign that he who
so says is hungry for office, and could he
but get few crumbs from the rich mans
table all would be we'll Offices to the
which this world can give, and
they like not to leave it, fearing least
heaven has them not. Never doing any
thing in Office but drawing salaries and
occasionally making. spasmodic effort
to show that the public welfare is their
only aim, the severity of the spasm Gre
ates an abortion, and then "they cease
from their labors and their works do fol-
low them" Knowing these things, many
have quilted the Peoples Party for politi-
cal reasons only, caring not the ashes.of
a rye straw for any theological
doctrines and adhering to no faith.
To these political non-adherents no grace
is given, and to them is denied all right
to participate in the administration of
public affairs, and it is not denied them
because they are in a minority; but on the
contrary, for the sole reason that there is
asserted to be no such a right independent
of the political faith and consent of the
majority. To illustrate this point. With
in six weeks the writer, in conversation
with a well known and popular gentle
man of the Peoples Party, and promi-
nent city official, was told it was
the right of the priesthood to
control the politics of Utah. When asked
why it was, the gentleman replied: "You
believe in the right of the majority to
control, do you not?" We replied, Ger
tainly; there can be no doubt of that"
"Well, them" said he, ''this being con-
ceded, will prove it to you. Now, un-
derstand that no one man possesses the
priesthood entire, but only the whole
body of the church when assembled to-
gether and acting in their united capacity.
When acting thus they are in the
majority, and hence have right
to control. Do you see?" " Yes,
that is easily seen from your
stand point, but how about those who
have no priesthood?" II give it up"
This one incident tells wonderful tale,
whose moral is, no rights unless man
be Peoples Party man. Most certainly
it is the right of the majority to rule, but |
to rule because that majority is composed |
of citizens whose rights are defined and
defended by the State and not by the
Church. 1t is likewise the right of the
to criticise the acts of the major
ity, and to seek to make the views of
the minority the views of the majority
In Utah this right is denied,
and from pulpit and from press minorities
are mathematical and the individuals
them are stigmatized and
called all names that bigotry and malice
can suggest. Upon their head is poured
boiling oil from the ecclesiastical caldron.
This is from the Peoples Party. From
the Liberal Party does one get more
delicate dish? No; it is the same dish
filed with the same things, only served
Dy other hands. To take the middle way
IS to be denounced by either party. No
service is so desirable here in Utah
VI lllS SIONul vi 1iNOuOlu dS
he refusal to bend the knee to any party
II to any opinion. 1t may be called &C.
by one party, it may be called
ack-Mormonism by the other, but to both
We reply with Mill: In this age the
mere example of non-conformity, the
mere refusal to bend the knee to custom,
8 itself a service. Precisely because the ;
tyranny of opinion is such as to make &C.
entricity a reproach, it is desirable, in |
rider to break through that tyranny, that |
eople should be eccentric. Eccentricity !
as always abOunded when and where Il
trength of character has abounded; and t
ne amount of eccentricity in a society I
as generally been proportional to the +
mount of genius, mental vigor and
loral courage which it contained That r
0 few dare now to be eccentric marks 1
ne chief danger of the time" n
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