Salt Lake evening Democrat. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1885-1887, 1885-08-17
PRO BONO PUBLICO.

On Saturday the Tribune had this to
say concerning the gentlemen who were
engaged in the Democratic campaign:
..The DEafocRAr cites the fact that at the
last meeting of the squad Messrs. Marshall,
Merritt and Basl1in delivered speeches
Well, what of it2 Is Mr.. Marshall IN full
sympathy with the fedglings who are prac-
ticing their Democratic wings and crow tor
the first time? Hardly. Mr. Baskln pc
lieves in radical measures, IN Legislative
Commission for Utah, and does not believe
that the rule can be broken here by ooolng
to the Mormons, COO We never so sweetly.
AS for Mr.. Merritt, we do not think he has
ever voted in Utah or that he ever took any
part in politics here until Democratic
President was elected.
At the last meeting of the squad" as
the Tribune termed them, Col. Merritt
had this to say:
"Some criticism has been made by illib-
efal, hypercritioal people of those young gen.
tlemen, reared in Utah, who nave joined the
Democratic party. / doubt not, had they
joined the Republican party, they would
have been received with open arms, as
said before when giving the reasons why
these gentlemen Joined the Democratic
party rather than the party which, in my
Judgment is as dead as Julius Caesar. | say
some criticism, and in my Judgment very
unjust criticism, has been lndulged at the
expense of these young gentlemen. What
right has any one to question the sincerity
of these men 1t is easy for us who We're
born and reared in other sections of the
country to announce ourselves as Democrats
or Republicans, but it takes good deal OF
manhood and personal strength for the men
who were born and reared in Utah to come
out from the despotism which has hereto
fore crushed them, and announce themselves
as true Americans and Democrats. They
have the courage of their convictions, and |
respect and honor them for it,
At that same last meeting of the
squad Mr.. Baskin made the following
remarks concerning those whom the Trib-
elne particularly terms the squad:
"a good deal has been said in relation to
the young men who have been the movers In
the formation of this party. We who have
been raised in the States and been IN the
habit of thinking over all questions for our
selves from our cradles up, and feeling quite
independent, do not really appreciate the
attitude of these young men who have grown
up under the system here-a system that
takes away from the individual the right to
think independently and to act independ-
emily: tlaG SAYS TO tl6Se young men, You
must think as we think, vote as we vote,
pray as we pray, otherwise you are apostates;'
that tells them they have no right to think
and act otherwise than as their fathers have
thought and acted! When we consider the fact
that these young men, as Democrats, have
TO announce their independence in the face
of opposition from their parents, their fam
lilies, and those who have been their asso-
oiates from childhood up, and that many
times the hands of those once their friends
are now turned against them, we can mag
inc some of the sacrifices they are called
upon to make. And it will not do for few
Republicans over here looking and point
ing toward the Tribune office to throw dirt
at these young men. 1t requires decision of
character, and very positive character, to
take the stand that they have taken, and
when any considerable body of men take
such stand, l tell you they are not to be
ignored"
We publish these extracts from the
speech of Col. Merritt and Mr. Baskin,
that the public may know their senti-
ments as regards the squad" and the
low-minded filings that the Tribune has
been making against different individuals
of the Democratic party. In so doing we
admit that we have neglected the Bible
advice to ANSWER fool according 10 his
folly"