The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1891-08-07
THE WAR JUST BEGUN.

"Well, the war Is over, and how do you
feel about 1t ?" said one Democrat TO an
other, in our hearing yesterday. There
was an air Of joyousness about the manner
of the man who asked the question which
plainly told that he was satisfied with the
result OF the late election. He doubtless
thought that-to make use of ABE LIN
coins quaintremark-as everybody knows
more than anybody, SO to carry sUtsh
was bigger thing-mark It, Triblme-than
TO carry Salt Lake city. But we thought
at the same time there was manifest error
in the remark Of our friend when he said
the war was-ov Instead of il being over
II has just begun. Monday was the open
ing engagement of a war that will last for
a long time to come. It will last as long as
Utah is a territory. 1t will continue after
she becomes one Of the sovereign states OF
this union; and will last as long, doubtless,
as the commonwealth itself shall remain.
For where men are free, as we trust. they
ever will be in the state of Utah, they viii
doubtless differ as to political principles
and their application to the administration
OF government. So long as they are free,
those who are of the same opinion
with each other will drift together into
political parties and oppose those who differ
from them in principle. So far as the
Democratic party is concerned, we feel
sure that il is bottomed on true principles
Of civil government, and will remain for all
time to come; but il its present opponent,
the Republican party, should pass away, as
we believe it will pass away, and find a
grave in the boneyard where the remains
OF so many of its predecessors which
raised their crests for moment against
the splendid party of the people. the Demo
cratic party, other heresies will arise and
fad leaders and followers against whom
the Democratic party will have to stand in
defense of constitutional liberty and the
peace and good order OF society.
The Democratic party, with the begin
ming of our constitutional system of gov
eminent, stepped into the arena as the
champion of liberty and human rights
against ali who sought under what plea
soever to interfere with the enjoyment Of
these things. Its Emission will never be
completed, its glorious task will never be
fulfilled, until the last enemy to human
freedom and human rights shall be hope
lessly destroyed; and as that is not likely
10 take place on this imperfect mundane
sphere Of ours, the task of the
Democratic party is an everlasting one; its
warfare eternal. IL there are periods OF
peace between battles; if after one oppo-
nent is vanQuished there is q period of
peace before another enemy to good gov
arruant and human fraaao,n ran rnuetar
the courage to appear before the old war
SCARED champion, it is the duty Of the
Democratic party to lay down clad in COM
plete armor with his arms in his hands by
the side of the citadel Of liberty and watch.
He is not at liberty to strip on mis- armor,
adorn silken apparel and seek q luxurious
couch. The Democratic party was born a
PALLAs-he Ia a warrior, whose duty il is
to stand watch and ward over the citadel
OF human liberty, and mankind have
learned that eternal vigilance is the price
of liberty.
No, we repeat, the war our friend spoke
of is not over. 1t is single skirmish we
have just had with the enemy that Is over:
and now that il is over ard the victory is
won-since it is our first in this territory
let US pause q moment and learn our duty
after victory. Surely il is not ouE part
like some foolish troops we read OF in olden
times, who, after gaining partial victory
in q skirmish, early in the battle fell to
reveling in the tents Of the
vanquished wing OF the army; ard
who by such breach Of soldierly
conduct lost the battle by failing
% vnela cood paa ~ the adv.n,aoa sha,,
had gained. That is not our part On the
contrary. it is our part to look over the
field, to see where our defsnses were weak,
at what points the enemy made most heed
way: to see wherein we failed to make
use of the advantages which our superior
position gives US, and to learn wisdom from
the blunders or partial blunders which
may have been made. That is our duty in
part. Another part Of il Is to see to it that
we are neither too soon detected by de-
feat, nor too much elsted with success;
that we are moderate in the flush of vic
tory, calm in the presence of defeat. Now,
that the first battle Is over, let US prepare
for the next by continuing the campaign of
education. Our country is full OF young
men who soon will be voters; let the Demo
cratic clubs everywhere be active in getting
them enrolled on their club lists, and there
make preparation for their complete edu-
cation in the principles of Democracy by
providing public lecturers and accepting
every opportunity for the discussion of
political principles, and the circulation Of
Democratic literature. Clear the field for
action, and let US prepare Utah to become a
Democratic state that can always be de-
pended upon. That is the measure of our
full duty to Utah and the nation. Let it
never be said that Utah's sons failed in do
ing their duty.