Salt Lake evening Democrat. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1885-1887, 1886-11-18
POLITICAL PARTIES IN UTAH.

POLITICAL PARTIES IN UTAH.
Much has been written and said tend
ing to show that there should be no
political parties in Utah. II is claimed
by some that there should be but one
effort by the Gentiles in this Territory,
and that that effort should be against
Mormonism. But we notice that the
strongest advocates OF this doctrine are
the strongest Republicans, and that all
their work tends to magnify the Repub-
lican party. If their teachings were fol-
lowed out, and the Mormon question |
should be settled in Utah, then there
would be but one party in Utah, and that
the Republican party; they are perfectly
willing that all partisan principles and all
political rights should be sacrificed
especially by the Democrats; they are the
willing lambs that should lead all human
ity into the Republican party. Now, as
Democrats, we enter our protest against
this doctrine. We believe in main
tanning two political parties we be-
leve in the principles and the
history of the Democratic party;
they are grounded in the rights OF man;
they are expressive of his natural in
stincts and natural rights, and we pro-
pose to stand by them whether in a
State or Territory. While we shall not
permit any Republican to do more than
we will do, to undo this great wrong to
the people OF Utah, by which the So
called church dominates the will of the
people, we must insist that it is wiser and
better for the people of Utah, both Gen
tiles and Mormons, to have party lines
well defined and to have political princi-
pies constantly held up before the peo
pie.
The young men OF the Territory should
be educated in politics; they should be
educated in the principles OF the Govern
ment, and they should be taught con-
stantly that there is more than political
church power; they should be taught
the majesty OF the Government, and they
should be taught the principles OF
Democracy.
We firmly believe that the best thing
that could happen to the Mormon people
to-day, would be to have them divide into
political parties we would far prefer that
they should be equally divided between
Democrats and Republicans, and that
they should have constant discussion and
constant strife for the offices of the Terri
tory. We should be glad to see the day
here when their attention should
be turned TO national principles,
to different policies of administering
the government, to the great questions
OF the day, OF tariff reform and finance
and public education, instead OF having
their minds constantly made submissive
to the will of a single individual or an as
sociation OF priests. Nothing under the
eye OF God can be more contrary to the
rights OF man, and more antagonistic to
Democratic principles, than for the nd-
vidual to give up his rights-give up his
manhood-to submit his will to the will
of others. Let the young men OF Utah
come out from under this superstition ;
come out from under this tyranny that
would take away the right of individual
action in public affairs. Let them divide
according to their natural inclna,
tions into Democrats and Repub-
licans, and the day would not be far
distant when we should find as manhood
asserted itself, that this Capitalization OF
political ecclesiastcism, would be driven
to its merited oblivion. Here in Utah,
the old, old question must be fought out
again, one OF the cardinal principles OF
Democracy, the complete separation Of
Church and State, and how shall it be
done? Never so long as the young men
OF Utah acquiesce in the rule of the
Church, and have no political affiliation.
Then let them come out; let them
take a stand, right here on the
soil OF Utah, in favor OF independent
political action there is no other way,
and those who advocate the destruction
OF political parties in Utah, are simply
perpetuating the struggle which is ire
pressible between government and this
&c clesiasticism. Think of it as we may,
there is no final settlement of this ques-
ton except by educational processes
there is no other permanent reform, and
political discussion and the division OF
the people into political parties will give
them the opportunity for asserting their
manhood and for educating each other
up to the standard OF American citizen
ship In saying this the DEMOCRAT
wishes it distinctly understood that it
does not advocate such separate party
action under such condition of things as
are likely to exist for sometime to come
as will weaken any election contest with