The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1891-06-28
NOT SURPRISING.

Some surprise has been expressed that
the Republicans have made such slight
Roadway in this county. They have
iabored hard among the erstwhile members
OF the disbanded Peoples party, but have
enlisted very few, and the success among
the Liberals is no better. Some are
wondering why this is, why there is not .
hooking around the Republican banner
something like the movement towards the
democratic sta1dard. 1t occurs TO Us that
there should eho occasion for surprise in
this. The explanation should be easy. As
to why the members of the Peoples
party do not take kindly TO the Republi-
cans, nobody who has read political history
can ask for reason. The Peoples
party was made up Utmost exclusively
OF Mormons and Mormons have been the
special object of hatred of Republicans.
The latter begun their career as q political
organization with illumination against the
Saints, and We gelieve no Republican plat
form has been framed since 1860. when the
famous twin relic of barbarism'' plank
was inserted, which has not contained an
attack upon the Mormons. And what is
also true, the Republicans have lived up to
/ their professions in this matter, waging
determined and at times vicious and vim
dictive warfare against the Saints. We
don't refer to this now for the purpose of
lettering any Mormon from joining the
Republican party. We mention it merely
as historical fact and for tie pur-
pose Of furnishing the readiest explana-
ton why the old Peoples party members
do not rush pell-mel into the Republican
fold.
I But now as to the matter in question. 1t
may be true the Republican party is COM
posed largely of the wealthy classes, but it
does not follow that all the brains and pro-
gress are with them also. The Democrats
are not of the poorer classes of American
citizens: but among them may be found
men of wealth, of influence, OF progressive
ideas, that are the peers OF the proudest
ana highest in the Republican party; and
If we shall turn to that bright galaxy Of
names which. in the sphere of statesman
ship or on the battlefield, have spread a
halo of glory over the American names, as
many will be found to be Democrats as
Republicans All Democrats, We repeat,
are not of the poorer classes of our citizens,
but it is true that for the most part the
common people are Democrats. This, so
far from being any cause of shame
to the Democratic party is its
glory. 1t claims just that. viz.
that it is tho party of the people.
1t is pledged to their interests; il demands
equality for them before the law; 1t claims
for them the right to be their own
custodians OF their liberties; it denounces
favoritism by which one class of citizens
are made wealthy at the expense of an
other through unjust and therefore vicious
discrimination; it proclaims the reign of
democracy-of the people; it insists that
the vote of the man in his cheap coat shall
count as much as that of the millionaire in
his velvet one; therefore the people trust
ii, love it, and the classes, the pseudo
aristocracy of the land, correspondingly
hate it because it threatens to strike
down their special privileges and put them
upon an equal footing with their fellow
citizens.
1t is no reproach to have it said: "Y our
party IS composed of the common peo-
ple," or, to put it in rather in
elegant Republican phraseology, of
the rag tag and bobtail," when we re-
member what the common people have
done in this world. 1t is they who have
made it world worth living in. In the
UNEQUAL contest with kings and aristocrats
they have succeeded in wrenching from
their limbs the letters with which they
were bound; and not only did they assert
their liberties, but they have maintained
them and have established them upon such
principles and protected them by such a
system of government. at least in this land,
that never again will either an aristocracy
or kings dare to lay unhallowed hands upon
their freedom. With them all great re-
forms commence, and struggle upward
until they bless mankind. We cannot all
forget that il was the common people,
of Messiah, and who in the face of opposi-
ton which seems to US appalling, faithfully
adhered to the grand truths entrusted to
their keeping until the world received
them. We remember, too, that the Mes
siah himself was of the common people.
He was the Great Commoner, we may say
and il would appear that COP designed to
show His contempt for human wealth,
for human ACKNOWLEDGEMENT, for ali arti-
fetal distinctions of classes by causing His
Son to come up from among the common
people" We shall not be ashamed to be
found standing among the common people,
since we are in such goud company.