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

In Utah Territory there is no political
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? ?'' ''I am against the
government" The Peoples party has
always been against the National Gov
ernment, 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, if carried out,
would encompass the whole situation.
and cure all evils, past, present and to
come.
To have seen the full working out ofthese
principles between these parties would
have made Mill think as he never
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 erceJsis
But what are these principles which
We're 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
a single word they We're 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; nv 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 saws.
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
strong government is the safety of re-
llgious 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 of these solutions is the best and
most consonant with the theory that. in
American commOnwealths the Church
and the State are and must be forever
separate 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 -.
adopting platforms, don't forget to discuss =
them and the situations to which
they will be applied. 1t will be =
found that there are more things in
heaven and earth than are dreamed of in
your philosophy. Remember you bear the \
burdens of gogeramem and 1t is your riqht g
and daty to control them. y
A friend recommends the following: T.
The right of each citizen to his free voice and t
vote must be upheld. u
Ofice-holders must not control the suffrage -
The-ofice should seek.the man, and not the
nan the Office u
Public service, in business positions, should g
epend solely on fitness and good behavior Il
The crimes of bribery and corruption must be
elentlessly punished.
Local issues should be independent of ma
ional parties. re
Coins made unlimited legal tender must D,
ossess their face value as metal in the markets
f the world. -
Sound currency must have metal basis, and
Il paper money must be convertible on de- al
nand. "
Labor has right TO the highest wages it can Ia
arm, unhindered by public or private tyranny Pa
Trade has a right to the freest scope, unfet- ar
red by taxes, except for government ex- Oh
enses
Corporations must be restricted from abuse Iol
privilege.
Neither the public money nor the peoples ol!
nd must be used to subsidize private ent er. M
rise. ne
public opinion, W holesome and active, un- ne
ampered by machine control, is the true safe ne
uard of popular institutions.
an
APPOINTEES. w
z.