The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1886-10-24
MR.. TUCKER ON SOCIAL FREE
DOM.

In a recent speech delivered in the
city of Richmond, Va, the Hon. J. R.
Tucker had the following to say IN re-
lation to the social rights of the indi-
vidual, and the rights of States:
I'm the first place. the great distinguishing
| principle of Democrat is to believe in the
principle and right of the man, and not in
| the power of the government. A great deal
has been said about States rights, but some
! young man will pop up and say: oh, WELL
that was all right years ago, but the war ex
| ploded all that" Looking at the audience
marked: II know what the results of the
war were. Qaughter). And the Supreme
Courts of this country have dec ded that
every State has the rightto manage its own
affairs, and especially its own sociai affairs.
| in its own WGy!" Rarely has q remark
| elected more tumultuous applause than did
/ this last reference. 1t was several minutes
| before the cheers and applause ceased, and
then the speaker added: And there is no
| power that can regulate q mans social
affairs in his own home but himself"
| (Cheers).
why, there is no freedom in my social
affairs if cannot regulate the affairs of my
| own home. (Cheers.) Democracy starts
| withthe liberty of the home, free from The
| intrusion Of all on the outside loud cheers:
| with the liberty of the city, free from the
Intrusion OF all on the outside; with the
| liberty of the nation, free from the intrusion
of the powers without. (Cheers) And l
claim the power to manage my own home
and to keep out all OF any color that don't
want in there. (Cheers.) All, hal they tell
you that States rights were blown up in the
wat. Were city rights blown up then ia. 4?
(LaughterQ No. my friends; it has not come
to that"
We believe in the doctrine announced
in the above, and can only express our
wonder that man holding such views
could recommend for the action of the
House of Representatives such an in
famous piece of legislation as that
known as the Edmunds-Tucker bill.
The only theory upon which the &C
ton of Mr.. Tucker can be reconciled Is
that he wanted to make the absurd
claims of those who hold that Congress
has a right to legislate for community |
OF people in q Territory in all cases
whatsoever, in their social and purely |
local affairs as well as in all others ap-
pear in such ridiculous light, that it
would become hideous in the eyes of
all men who believe in the largest pos
sible liberty to the individual, and the
rights of each distinct community in
its purely local concerns to gov
ern itself. The only other theory
would be, that out of fear of
popular disapproval, Mr.. Tucker
smothered his true convictions of the
rights of individuals and separate com
munities to manage their own affairs aud
struck blow at the rights of the people
of Utah to win popular applause. That
would leave him with the brand of q
moral coward burned into him, and so
deeply burned that no timeI and no cir
could ever efface it. But
ne refuse to believe that of him. We
hold to the6rst theory.
Mr.. Tucker says the supreme courts
Of this country have decided that every
State has the right to manage its own
affairs, and especially its own local
affairs in its own way" Now, what is a
State in the American Union? tbs an
political community, possess
ng peculiar local interests. and whose
Inherent right of sovereign control of
hose local concerns is fully acknowI-
edged by her sister States; and according
o Mr.. Tucker, by the supreme courts of
he country. And what is a Territory ,,
n the United States? 1t is commun
" Of people. also possessing many
distinct and peculiar local interests
'ut whose inherent sovereign right as a
community to manage its own affairs
5 but partially acknowledged by the
United States; and in the case of Utah
It least, instead of being permitted to !
'rganize a government for herself, has
ne thrust upon her that is destructive I
# her social and material interests.
till we admit that the object of old
Nathan Dane when he conceived the
dea OF Territorial government. and !
RATED the plan for the government of !
be Territory northwest of the Ohio