The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1889-11-05
HONOR TO WHOM 1T is DUE.

A member of the Liberal party accosting
member of the Peoples party yesterday,
and referring to the Liberal parade On Sat
urday night, admitted that the latter or
ganization had more material and stronger
forces with which to do or Guido the other,
and that they would doubtless do it. "But,"
said he, '.who began this business! II 1t
had not been for the Liberals there would
have been no demonstration Saturday
night, no activity during the present cam
paign, and no Americanism here at all.
We would have had the same old, quiet,
cut-and-dried proceedings which prevailed
in the days now happily past, and Utah
would be as much Utah as it ever was, with
no hope of anything better. Yes, the Lib
erals have done it all"
Whether the man spoke from the fullness
of his heart or stomach, it matters not.
Perhaps he was speaking his honest senti
ments. his candid belief, and if so he is
entitled to respect accordingly, whether
we and all who differ with him
seek other times and different
avenues from the public thoroughfares in
which to express ourselves or not. The
substance of the Liberals position was
discussed in full in recent number of THE
HERALD, in which it was fully set out that
while not altogether coveting the noisiness
and display of campaign such as has been
inaugurated, it is nevertheless necessary
for one party to take it up whenever the
other does, so that one may neutralize the
other-the noise, confusion and fanfare
made being negatived, the people have
chance to decide the case upon its merits,
whereas, if no counter displays and nc OPP
position were shown on the part Of the side
worked against, the side working would
have things pretty much their own way.
1t is a stern even if regretable fact that
tn ere is a certain class in every community
who are surely won by such tactics as
those previously spoken of. And they may
be as good people as the majority, too,
only they are possessed of nature
which undulates, swells and depresses in
accordance with surrounding circum-
stances. They like the clashipg of GYM
balls, the glitter of tinsel and the general
display consequent upon an immense turn
out of political or military character, and
when the two elements are combined in one
the effect is simply irresistible. They are
not to blame for this; in fact, under some
conditions, they are to be commended, for
they are the class of people who at a play
become interested at the right times and
applaud in the proper places. But the
most important fact remains to be told.
Whether they are iudiciods or iujudicious,
they have votes, in the majority of in
stances, and it is these votes that the party
which initiates the display are after. And
they will get them, too, unless the other
side puts in scientific counter-irritant,
and it is generally if not always put in.
Thus it is that the campaign is so in
tensely intense, so deeply, profoundly
American" AS before suggested it may
net be a subject to be deplored, not be a
matter that will leave behind it any re-
grets, except it be for sleepless hours and
no little money spent, for time and talents
squandered in vain by one of the contend
ing parties. By ourselves, and speaking
only as the spirit moves, we would decid-
edly and altogether prefer a campaign less
conspicuous for marching and counter
marching, the hurrahs of hosts and the
pomp, pride and circumstance Of glorious
war, than contest of reason and an ap-
peal to the intellectual and higher faculties
of mankind But since the adversary have
begun the thing las they claim, there is
nothing left the other side but to do like
wise with interest, or be left in another
way.