The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1889-03-24

ism to which reference is made is positive
danger, growing evil that needs to be ar
rested Already the Senators and Repre-
sentatives of our national Congress forget
that they are members of Congress by re-
Numbering that they are representatives OF
this or that section of the republic. Con-
gress is rapidly becoming congregation OF
ambassadors from different and hostile
interests; which interests each must main
tain, as an agent and advocate, against
other agents and advocates; instead of be-
ing what it should be, deiberative as
sembly of one nation, with one interest
that of the whole; where not local pur-
poses, not local interests, norlocal prejudlces
ought to guide, but the general good, result
ing from the general reason of the whole
To illustrate the position here taken, we
have but to look at the attitudes of Con-
gressmen on the tariff question. As soon
as any measure effecting that issue is
called into existence, it is not considered
under the broad view of enlightened states
manship, which would consider theinterest
of the whole country, but each member i'm
mediately flies to the consideration of how
his action will affect his standing
with his own constituents; and arranges
his convictions and times his. ut
terances accordingly. If he comes
from a section of the union where manu-
featuring interests preponderate, and if
those immediate interests are enhanced in
value by means of high tariff, rest as
sured the interests of the whole nation will
bo4 i,,o hot tho 1ar
member may keep on proper terms with his
constituents, that reelection may be as
sured This is the kind of toadyism that
America needs to fear. 1t is not only to be
found in Congressman, but it is to be found
everywhere, and among all classes; it is in
the city councils as well as the national
Congress it influences political conventions
as well as state legislatures. 1t is sapping
the vital force of American manhood and
honesty 1t is one of the evils, one of the
vices against which republics need be es-
specially guarded.
If human experience during the progress
of our race towards the goal of perfect
liberty, political and religious, teaches one
truth more emphatically than another, it
is that those in the van of that progress
have been the unpopular minority; the few
fighting against the many; the weak con-
tending against the strong, the strong be-
ing rendered doubly strong by reason of
entertainment behind existing institutions
and present interests. If the toadyism
herein censured is not destroyed, be as
sured it will continue to increase until it
affects the national character, if, indeed, it
has not done so already. Its tendency is
to beget nation of cringing sycophants to
popular clamor, often miscalled sentiment;
nation of people whose leaders, if such
you can call them, dare not speak up in de-
Tense of an oppressed minority if unpopu-
lar, however just their cause. Pardon,
gentles all" we know whereof we
speak. Here in Utah we have
had many and practical demon
STATIONS of woeful lack of American
manhood both in individuals and political
parties. However firmly convinced in their
! judgments of the justice Of our cause, we
have seen our politicians startle like skittish
jades at a windmill when even the popular
breeze threatened to rise in relation to the
Utah question. But aside from all con-
sideration of our local affairs and the effect
that this toadying to prejudiced popular
sentiment may have upon Utah's best
interests, we would cry woe to the great
American republic when her sons no longer
dare speak or act in behalf of oppressed
innocence, or outraged communities, be-
cause, forsooth, they are condemned by an
uniformed and unreasoning populace.
When that characteristic becomes fixed,
farewell to American progress-this grand
republic will have then touched the high
water mark of her greatness, and her de-
| cline will have begun.