The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1891-11-05
BAD BUSINESS.

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party politics into one of the meetings of
the late Logan quarterly conference OF the
mormon church, the partial denial Of such
charge by President JOSEPH T. SMITH, and
tne sudden increased activity of Repub-
means IN Logan, as recited in a HERALD
special dispatch-doubtless in consequence
OF the talk of Mr.. SMITH together with
the editorial remarks of the Nation with
reference to the supposed position of the
late President BRIGHAM You've, Presidents
GEORGE Q. CANNON, WILFoRD WoopRUFF
and JOSEPH F. SMITH on the subject of pro-
tectIon-make the present q fitting occa-
sion to call attention to one phase of po-
lltical controversy in Utah that deserves
seVerest censure. That is this Some
persons-neither numerous nor IN
huential, however-seek to induce
people to be Republicans because
JOSEPH SMITH, or DANIEL H. WELLS
was a Republican, or because VIII
FORD WOODRUFF or GEORGE Q. CAN
NON favors that party. Whether or
not any insane or idiotic Democrat at
tempts in the same way to convert (!) any
one to be Democrat we cannot say. but
this we do say, that if such there be their
course is just as censurable as that Of the
Republicans who are known to practice
this sort Of thing. We neither know nor
care what MILFORD WOODRUFF is, nor
whether GEORGE Q. CANNON is Demo
crat, a Republican or a Mugwump. The
people of Utan-we can speak at least for
those who are Democrats-are not taking
Mormon church nor from any Mormon
leaGer living or dead. The principles
o. the Democratic party were active in
the formation of the American government
In fect, they made that government. Its
existence is monument to the success of
those principles, and SO long as love of
them is enshrined in the hearts of the
American people, just so long is the great
republic secure. At various times from the
founding of the go eminent until now,
men pre-eminent for patriotism and ability
and with deep insight into the spirit of
American institutions have arisen and ex-
banded them and hold them up TO the ador-
alton of the American people. Such men
were JEFFERSON, MADISON, HENRY, JACK
SON and TILDEN. These are the fathers
and apostles of Democratic doc
irines. They formulated and pro
mulgated the political creed. Democrats
believe in day; and Democrats
accept that creed not. however, because
they taught it, but because it is true. We
point to 1t with pride aud say to the people
OF Utah: There it is; read it, think of it.
examine it, discuss it with your neigh bors,
let them hurl their venom and epithets at
1t II they wish, it will endure all and only
appear the brighter, the stauncher, the
truer Tor having passed through the furn-
ace OF criticism and the petty flames of
their wrath. 1t needs not the endorsement
OF prophets and apostles; it is capable of
standing on its own merits: the wear and
tear of century's experiences have
given the people confidence in its
trustworthiness, and we have no
need that ever ghost should
come from the other world to tell us i. is
true. The Democrat who would seek to
influence fellow citizen, a neighbor or
friend to accept the Democratic faith in
any other way than by an appeal to the
Democratic creed and what the application
of 1t has done for America and what it will
90 Tor our land in the future is certainly
lacking IN common sense. Surely he would
make an ass of himself if he undertook to
pull man into the Democratic fold be-
cause BRIGHAM You've was Democrat.
We may not perhaps speak quite so
plainly about Republican who
would seek to bring converts into
his fold by telling the people that
JOSEPH SMITH was Republican; but
surely we can say with all .propriety that
when Republicans resort to that kind of
trlckery they have little confidence in their
principles and less in the intelligence of
their intended victims.
Let US have no more of that kind of DO
lltlcal argument which indirectly saws
JOSEPH SMITH was Republican, therefore
you SHOULD be Republican; President
MILFORD WOODRUFF and his two associates
favor the Republican party, therefore YOU
should join that party 1t will of course be
understood that we do not know whether
those gentlemen-except JOSEPH F. SMITH
favor the Democratic or Republican
party, nor do we care; our point is that
whatever their practice may be cuts no
figure as to what the politics of other
people shall be. And an appeal
to what they are and what they favor with
a view to influence people in their polit
ical affiliations is idiotic and improper. We
do not think this kind of thing prevails TO
any great extent, but that it exists at all
is matter of surprise, and it should be re-
buked wherever and whenever it makes
its appearance.
Other people even more idiotic than those
who would proselyte on the strength Of
what JOSEPH SMITH was in politics or what
BRIGHAM YOUNG was, are the men who saw
directly or by insinuation, that man can
not be Democrat and be good Mormon.
That IS just so much rot; and we ara
pleased to note that JOSEPH F. SMITH in his
letter published in yesterdays HERALD in
explanation of the Logan episode. ex-
presses the opinion that good Democrats,
as well as good Republicans, are capable of
becoming good Mormons.
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