Salt Lake evening Democrat. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1885-1887, 1885-03-16
PLATFORM OF PRINCIPLES.

adopted by the Democratic CLUB of Utah.
Club of Utah.
The members of this club do hereby reaffirm
and endorse the principles embodied in the
platform adopted by the National Convention
of the Democratic party, held at Chicago on the
eighth day of July, 1884.
For more specific statement of the princi-
pies to which the members of this club will ad-
here and struggle to make predominant we do
hereby declare:
First-That the affairs of government can be
safely entrusted to the intelligence of free
people.
Second-That all just government is derived
from the consent of the governed. That every
citizen should be allowed the exercise of the
largest liberty consistent with the public good
and safety.
Third-That in such government trust is de-
volved upon every citizen, after informing him
self upon any question of policy or govern
ment to act, politically, as his best individual
judgment would direct, absolutely free from
coercion, control or dictation, ecclesiastical or
otherwise. While the State has given a consti-
tutional pledge not to interfere with religion
there is a reciprocal obligation on the part of
religion not to interfere with the State. For it
to do so is dangerous, both to itself and the ex-
istence of free government. This would be-
come the more evident, if each of the many
denominations should independently engage
in struggle for political supremacy
Fourth-Political1y, all men are created free
and equal: the priest and the layman must stand
upon the same plane. Therefore, we reafirm
that the affairs of church and State ought to
and must be forever separate and distinct,
locally and nationally.
Fifth-Local self-government is q cardinal
principle of Democracy, and as such we affirm
and endorse it. On the one hand local
political organization appeals for the abrogation
of all local self-government in this Territory by
the establishment of Legislative Commission.
On the other hand, an opposing political organ
ization has afforded, by the conduct and
declaration of its most influential members,
the means by which the former might make its
appeal successful.
Sixth-The withdrawal of all powers of gov
eminent from the people, implied in the estab-
lishment of Legislative Commission, would
be to remove all inducement or announcement
to political activity and independence, and by
the lethargy which would ensue, engender ut
ter indifference to the exercise of free and in
telligent political thought and action. This
would but aggravate the evils which 1t is de-
signed to cure, and can, of course, find no sup
port, except by those who believe the applica-
ton OF free principles inadequate to human
government.
Seventh-To obtain local Disagreement, the
Territory must be redeemed from the discredt
that has been brought upon it.
Eighth-We shall struggle to make predomi-
nant the sentiment that every citizen should
and must obey every law until, by legitimate
agitation, if obnoxious or unjust its abrogation
or repeal can be secured.
Ninth-Religious belief or fidelity should
never be made test of political or official pre-
ferment The application of such test tends
to the promotion of an inferior grade of Off
Gals, and often of persons utterly disqualified
or unfit for the positions they are called to oc-
cupy. In the selection of officers to administer
and execute the laws, fitness for the office
should be the only qualification required.
Tenth-To the end that free local self-govern-
ment may be secured and participation in
national affairs had and maintained, upon the
basis of these principles, we severally pledg
ourselves to support them and to struggle that
they may become predominant, and invite all
good citizens who believe that the principles
thus enunciated should be supreme, prospect
i've of religious belief, or previous political
affiliations, to unite with and aid us to consum-
mate this end. J. L. RAwLINs
President.
JOHN H. BURTON,
Secretary.