The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1890-07-31
PEOPLES TICKET.
General Election, August 4, 1890
SALT LAKE COUNTY.
THE RIGHTS OF ALL.

About forty years ago when the Chart
lists Of England demanded universal male
suffrage, it was thought passing strange by
the aristocrscy that workingmen should
be so bold. Their. demand was resisted
and universal male suffrage is not yet at
tanned in Great Britain.
When the constitution was adopted,
there was, even in this country, consider
able doubt as TO the wisdom of giving the
ballot to all adult males, But the principle
of ideal democracy that each should have
the fullest exercise of his powers consis-
tent with the same exercise of powers by
his fellows, finally prevailed, and with the
abolition of slavery came the extension of
this principle to include universal man
hood suffrage. We therefore have to day,
in so far as an ideal principle is capable of
application, SPENoER's first principle in
operation among u.s. This principle as form
ulated by the philosopher is that ''every
man has the freedom to do all that he wills,
provided that he infringes not the equal
freedom of any other man,
This principle is recognized with more or
less force by the very genius of our govern
ment; it is not possible to make the princi-
pie apply in every case: but it is the ideal
equality toward which the acts of our gov
eminent constantly aim.
1t is affirmed in the Declaration of indie
pendence that all men are created free and
equal; but practically there are great diff
ferences in individual capacity among men.
1t is only meant that men are equal before
the law, and that the law itself shall create
no arbitrary distinctions between the vari-
Gus subjects of the government or members
of any commonwealth. The action of the
law must be uniform and impartial: the
political action of one man is just as leglti-
mate as that of any other. There is nothing
In the genius of American institutions that
should impede the free political action of
any man. 1t is not imperative that men
shall place themselves under any self APP
pointed leaders. however able or daring
these may appear. 1t is not even necessary
to train with any political party If pres
ent parties are not acceptable, it is less a
mans right than his duty to labor for new
party. For in republic every man is
bound by his responsibility to take an in
terest in public affairs.
These remarks are suggested by the at
tempt of the Liberal party and its organs
to drive the workingmen from the political
HELD 1t seems to be assumed that the
workingmen ought to have asked some
body's permission, before they placed a
ticket in nomination; that they are to FOL
low, and never to lead in public affairs:
that II they desire different men in office or
different conducto of affairs, they may ask.
hlf 20 i'm hOr+ bo
class is jackass that ought to be ridden.
and that these self-appointed Liberal lead
ers are the ones to bestride the animal.
We say TO the workingmen that if any,
body or any party has the right to a voice
In public matters, they have: that it is
wholly unnecessary for them to be alarmed
at the vituperation that is being hurled at
them; and that after they once make their
power felt, as they now propose to do, they
VIII be courted and needed by the very men
that are now defaming them. As a rule.
worklngmen are modest, if not timid, in
regard to taking any stand in politics; and
it is only because OF their hesitation to stem
forth and publicly defend themselves that
the lash is now so vigorously welded over
them But there is one weapon they have
more effective than scurrilous ssink-sliug
ing" or vicious stump oratory, and that is
the ballot. 1t is simply for them to say
whether or not they will now use this
weapon in self-defense; and we think they
will
Ihere are among the workingmen lust as
apaole leaders in politics, just as brilliant
nlnds, and just as able men for public DO
Jltlon, as among any class in Tho cor,r,,,,
ity. From the ranks of the workers have
arisen the most famous leaders of modern
times, and it is they that support aud give
inspiration to all political leaders or part
les. There may be people without
leader, but there can be no leader without
people. The workingmen constitute the
masses of the people end need not ask per-
mission Of any one to do what others NAV
40, viz: make their opinion felt in public
policy.