Salt Lake evening Democrat. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1885-1887, 1885-03-12
POLITICAL SOCIETIES.

education; in Utah Territory there are
no politics in the sense in which the
term is used elsewhere. The position of
both the parties heretofore occupying the
political arena of the Territory is well,
accurately, and tersely defined by the
famous Irish reply to the question, "What
are your politics?' 81 am against the
government" The Peoples party has
always been against the National Gov
eminent, and the Liberal party has al
ways been against the Territorial govern
ment. Both parties have had platforms
based upon principles that to each were
dear, that each knew, ii carried out
would encompass the whole situation
and cure all evils, past, present and to
come.
To have seen the full working out of these
principles between these parties would
have made Mill think as he new er
thought before; from Darwin it would
have drawn new and still more startling
and world disturbing theories, while
French dreamers and doctrinaires would
have shouted gloria IN ecceIsis
But what are these principles which
were to do such wondrous things? Were
they founded upon the new gospel which
arose with the rising of the Star Of Beth
lehem? No, for they arose in the West
and were the very antipodes Of the doe
trines of the East. To sum them up in
single word they were HATRED.
The evils, the people and the principles
are still here; everything remains un-
changed but not Interchangeable. There
are now brought into the field new hopes
and old principles: hopes for reform and
freedom; the principles of Democracy
and the rights Of man.
The people Of the dominant party in
Utah Territory have said, to paraphrase)
there is no Government but our Govern
ment; no God but our God; my people
shall be thy people; my God, thy God.
The answer of Democracy to this is: To
thee, thy God; to me, my God. The
Peoples Party says, our powers are
from God; the Liberal Party says,
our powers are from the general
government; the Democratic party saws.
our powers are from the people. The
Peoples Party says, in the domination
OF our church is the safety OF religious
freedom; the Liberal party says, in a
strong government is the safety of re-
ligious freedom; the Democratic party
says, in the preservation of civil liberty |.
and our government as founded, is the /
safety of religious and all freedom.
Which ofthese solutions is the best and |
most consonant with the theory that, in
American commonwealth the Church |
and the State are and must be forever
and distinct, and that the claims
and rights of all denominations are equal
before, and must be so deemed and held
by, the civil power.
We invite the voters of the Territory
to the formation of political societies for
the discussion of all affairs pertaining to
State polity, and for the propagation of
political principles to them
may seem best. In doing so and when
platforms, on'tforget to discuss
them and the situations to which
they will be applied. 1t will be
found that there are more things in
heaven and Garth than are dreamed of in
your philosophy. Remember goa bear the
burdens Of government and 1t is your right
and duty to control them.
A friend recommends the following:
The right of each citizen to his free voice and
vote must be upheld
Onice-holders must not control the suffrage.
The office should seek-the man, and not the
nan the office.
Public service, in business positions, should
depend solely on fitness and good behavior.
The crimes of bribery and corruption must be
elenuessly punished
Local issues should be independent of ma
ional parties. ]
Coins made unlimited legal tender must .
their face value as metal in the markets !
+ the world.
SouAhN SuiiShNg AiuoI nav z a illStdl bdSlS, ana
II paper money must be convertible on de-
land
Labor has right to the highest wages it can I
arm, unhindered by public or private tyranny. /
Trade has a right to the freest scope, unfet-
red by taxes, except for government ex- Z
enses.
Corporations must be restricted from abuse
privilege.
N-a;tl,a- tt,o ,,,,l,1;o ,,,,,,,.- -. o
nd must be used to subsidize private ent err II
rise. u
A public opinion W holesOme and active, I'M II
ampered by machine control, is the true safe
uard of popular institutions.