The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1892-01-10
PRACTICAL CRAFTSMANSHIP.

That practical craftsmanship is the art of
wise compromise has long been accepted as
a truism. 1t is one of those truths that
becomes more apparent the more it is in
vestigated. 1t was this kind of statesman
ship which brought the American consti-
tuition into existence. The dreams of a
great empire, controlled by the well-born
and the wealthy, such as fitted through
the mind of ALEXANDER HAMILTON and
those who thought with him, involved a
scheme of government that was impossible
of adoption among a people who had just
escaped from the thraldom of a govern
ment based on those theories. Nor was it
altogether practical to adopt the ultra
views of those who held to the other ex-
IRENE, absolute Democracy. Hence our
American forefathers were brought face
| TO face with conditions which taught them
the art of practical statesmanship-wise
compromise, the art by which the wild
dreams of the theorist are nodded by the
hand of the severely practical man, and
made to meet conditions that exist in our
imperfect world, where all things seem to
be a strange mixture of good and evil :
where purely ideal forms and methods of
government viii not fit our conditions
! and hence are Utopian-impracticab
The wisdom of our forefathers in the prac-
teal statesman hip which produced our
constitution has been demonstrated by
over century of successful government
under the provisions of that compact,
which was the result of their careful de-
/ alterations; and so far is it from passing
into the sere and yellow leaf that it seems
now, after century's existence. only to
have arrived at the period of lusty, youth
full manhood. But there it stands, last
| ing monument of honor to the wisdom of
the men who framed it, and laid its founda-
ton upon those principles of human rights
and liberties which are now recognized as
just in nearly all the civilized nations OF
the earth, and invites men to study not
only of the political principles upon which
it is based, but also to a consideration OF
the manner in which it was productivity
wise compromise.
Turning from the consideration of sc
large theme to our somewhat smaller, tc
which the same principle of craftsmanship
may be applied, we once more call attention
to the new Home Rule bill for Utah nov
before the American Congress. 1t is one
of those measures that is the product Of
practical statesmanship-wise compromise
Permit us to show this: Here il
Utah the large majority of the people, con-
scious of the rectitude of their own conduc
and good faith in making the changes which
have taken place in the territory during tn
past few years undoubtedly are of tn
opinion that if full justice were done to tn
people who have made this territory, UtaI
would be admitted as one of the sovereign
states of the Union on equal footing witt
every other state and their destiny RELOCATED
to their own hands to mold On the othe
hand, the people and government
of the United States have beel
led to believe-whether rightfully o
wrongfully is immaterisl here-that tn,
people Of Utah are not to be trusted. TIL
tongue of SANDER has said that in givin,
up the practice of plural marriage the Nor
mons are insincere, and that it was onl,
for the purpose of gaining statehood; thu
intrenched, II might re-estaoIish polygam,
and set the country at defiance. Although
we believe that TO be untrue, still the ide
exists in the minds of Congressman an
the people of the country, at large; and s
long as that Ia the case, it is, however I'm
just 1t may be to the people of Utah, hope
less TO expect that statehood will b
granted. 1t can scarcely be expected
either, that the people of Utah, under tn
changed conditions that prevail are goin
to be content with the old territorial sys
TEN of government which, howeve
/ necessary it may have been i
the past is now an outrage upon th
l American citizens of our fair u tab
D badge of distrust unworthy to be thrus
1 upon Americans by Americans
i Under these circumstances what do th
3 conditions demands They demand wins
practical craftsmanship would suggest. a
application of little of the art of wis
: compromise. That compromise will b
: found in the Home Rule bill for Utah,
measure which the more it is though
S about and discussed, the more it will
4 found to meet the conditions by which "
are surrounded. In the first place it NEE,
e the aspirations of the people of Utah
S manage their own affairs, and will estab
: lish government in Utah which will /
: based upon the American principle tina,
t government derives its just powers fro
S the consent of the governed; and if granite
S by the President and Congress, 1t will be-
t graceful acknowledgment on the part ,
9 the country at large, of the efforts of tt
Mormon people to yield to the demands
the nnnntru in rasnsnt to polygamy. ar