Salt Lake evening Democrat. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1885-1887, 1885-04-21
EDUCATION FOR POLITICS.

We do not belong to the same party as
the Journal of Logan, nor are its aims
our aims; our object is not its object, but
at times we see in it something to be
commended, and if the suggestions which
it makes occasionally were followed by
the members of its party, there would be
a much healthier state of things here
politically.
In the Journal of April IS, there is an
excellent article entitled Political Edu-
cation" in which there is some very
sound sense. The article at the very first
frankly admits that the masses OF the
people of Utah require a better political
education than they now have; thing
that, so far as we can remember, has
never been admitted before by any paper
which was of the Peoples Party. Here
tofore the Peoples Party has throughout
taught that their politics needed no de-
fense, and that any assault upon their
policies in the administration of public
affairs was blow aimed at their relig-
ious freedom. When they have gone into
the political field where hard work and
political acumen had a chance to change
majorites when parties were nearly bal
anced, the members ofsthe Peoples Party
have not known what to do, and while
waiting to find out, they have been beaten
by their political enemies. The trouble
has been that unless leader was given
them, they were without one, and the
individual men have not been accustomed
to rely on themselves, but on others The
leaders OF the Peoples Party have regret
ted this fact at times, and yet
never dared to trust their fol-
lowers to act for themselves. In
this statement the Journal bears us
out as to the part which refers to the
leaders of its party. eve have heard
many prominent gentlemen Of the class
alluded to admit and deplore the fact
that their numbers scarcely embraced a
tico and cope in the political field with
theil adversaries." Does not this arise
fro" '',0 fact that the men of that party
h.E always been told what to do, 1--WE do
TT sav that The advice has not been good)
instead Of doing what they thought ought
to be done? And now when they find that
o{ ct o4
they do not know how to act. There is
scarcely a mgu in the Peoples Party who
would not scof s the idea of asking any
mans advi' as 10 what he should do if
he were in The CANYONS and his wagon
broke down or any part of his harness
broke, for there their experience and
common sense have taught them to rely
on themselves. IN material affairs they
are abupdantly able to take care
of themselves, 'ud why should they
not be in political affairs, which
are of greater importance to them?
They will one day say to those who have
assumed to tell them what to do and
what not to do, that they are abundantly
able to take care of themselves; and that,
like Rip Van Wrinkles potions, they are
better without them. We believe that
this day is fast approaching, and that
soon everything will be done in the eau
cuses and conventions and not before
these meet, as now. When that day
shall come, the people may be Demo
Gratis, or Republicans, or Prohibitionists,
or what they choose, but on that day
they can be reached by political ar
guments, and whenever men listen
to arguments they will weigh
them for their worth, and support that
which to them may seem best. When
that day comes, We have no fear for the
ideas of Democracy, for they stand on
argument and reason and hold that the
rights of man are more sacred than all
things else.
Yes, let us by all means have political
education, for "rarely under a republican
form of government providing for pop
ular suffrage, has there been SO great a
lack OF popular interest, discussion and
excitement in political affairs as was"
(and we may say is) "the case in Utah |
for many years after its organization as a
Territory
1t is to be hoped that in every town
throughout this Territory there will be
political clubs formed, on whatsoever
platforms the people may deem most
suited to their welfare, and then will the
people begin to realize that they are the
source and the end Of political power in
their public affairs, and that they owe
allegiance to no man, and that the State
is the whole people and not any part.