The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1891-05-07
A DEMOCRATIC DECLARATION.

Whatever others may think as to the
matter the Democratic club of Salt Lake
county concludes that the time has come
Ior the people OF this territory to cea Sc
ngnung political battles under the anoma-
lous and peculiar organizations which have
hitherto done the warning, and to align
themselves with the national parties in
principles and practice. For months past
II has been plainly seen that the drift of
public sentiment, and especially of Demo-
crauc sentiment, was in this direction; and
latterly 1t has been observed that the tide
mad set in so strongly that il could not be
stayed, although desperate efforts have all
the time been put forth to stop the flow by
q certain radical and unreasonable ele
ment which has thrived on the extraor-
binary and unnatural condition of things
that has prevailed, and which element had
sufdcient foresight to understand that its
chief occupation would be gone if the
masses were to divide on the national party
lines. Everybody in the community has
known something of the tendency of the
sentiment IN politics, and all have expert
enced something of the sensation: hence
the action taken by the Democratic club on
Tuesday will not create widespread aston
lshment- Just such action has been ex-
pected. 1t was natural that the proceed
ing should be taken; indeed it could not
well have been avoided or delayed, mems
minds having become so thoroughly imbued
with the Importance and necessity of res
cu1ng this territory from its anomalous
political condition, of placing it in
harmony with the states of the union
and of getting into position
where demand for recognition by
the other states as a part and portion of the
great American republic in political mat
tiers, could be presented with some hope of
favorable response. The Democratic
club acted, and the result is reported else
where in this mornings HERALD in the
form of a declaration of principles and an
invitation to all who believe in those prin-
ciples to unite in an effort to establish them
in Utah.
As remarked, the propriety OF doing this
has been only question as to the proper
time, and the club, made up of many of the
foremost Democrats and heretofore
Liberals of this city, has settled this for
itself, at least, by deciding that the time
has come; and we believe that in determin-
ing the matter for itself the club has also
decided for scores and hundreds of men
who are at heart Democrats but who have
not been members of a Democratic party
for the most effective reason that there was
no Democratic party here. We know how
the old men and the young men
have talked; we know how they have
longed for the time to come when GER
tain matters which have no legitimate
place in party politics would be eliminated
from our political contests and we could
meet and contest for the supremacy of
opinions and principles as they do else
where; we know how the voters have been
driven into taking sides without regard to
questions which divide American citizens.
one class for protection against the persist
ent assaults of the other class; and we think
we know that the great majority of the peo-
pie are so heartily sick and tired of this
peculiar kind of fighting, these fanatic as
saults and desperate defenses, that they
will heave a sigh of relief and feel that
distressing load has been removed when
different mode of party warfare can be pur-
sued. If that time has arrived we shall
soon see evidences of it in rallying to the
support of the Democratic club which has
taken the Initiative, at least so far as this
county is concerned.
Meantime, THE HERALD can heartily
commend the courage and independence of
the members of the club who have olsen
thralled themselves and declared their
freedom from Liberal dictation; we con-
graduate them upon getting squarely upon
record as Democrats, and announcing their
intention to battle for the supremacy of the
grand principles of government which we
love SO well and we earnestly direct the
attention of men of any and every political
faith to the resolutions which appear in
another place OF this issue. The declara-
tions are Democratic, the doctrines there
laid down are Democratic, the principles
there proclaimed are those believed in and
fought for by Democrats everywhere. Are
they not good enough for the Democrats of
Utahl