The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1892-03-26
ORGANlzG AND EDUCATE.

i hO hSAb SSHSTdI StSCIlOn IN t0lS Ierrl-
tory viii be held in November. 1t is a long
way off-so far in the future that nobody
wants TO think now of beginning campaign
work. We don't want to begin talking
| about conventions, tickets and men, as
there will be enough of that after the
spring and summer have both gone.
But there is another matter directly con-
nected with politics There is work to be
performed which ought not to be delayed
until the election campaign opens. If this
work shall be put off until next fall it
will be neglected altogether or not half
done. We refer to the matters of organi-
cation and education, concerning which we
have heretofore spoken. 1t ia less than
year since the people of Utah
divided on national party lines
and began in practical politics as
understood elsewhere in the country.
True, they were somewhat acquainted with
T the general principles of the two great
national parties, but they were not familiar
with the issues which divided the mighty
organizations. 1t is not to the discredit of
the masses to say this, for it had not been
| necessary for them to learn what the peo-
pie OF other communities knew. Our DO
litical battles had been fought along lines
different from those pursued by voters in
the states. The quarrel here was more in
the nature of religious than political one,
and the principles contended for were un-
like those concerning which future battles
at the polls will be fought To-day and
hereafter the people of Utah are and will
be like those of Colorado and California and
New York in so far as their politics
are concerned; the questions which divide
the voters Of the states will divide the
voters OF Utah, and they will be questions
OF party policy and principles. 1t is there
fore essential that our citizens shall ACQUIRE
knowledge of these principles that they
may vote Understandings.
We have had just one general election
since the division on national party lines,
and while the vote then cast showed that
the people were fairly well acquainted with
the doctrines Of the two parties, they also
showed that good many of the voters
were in certain degree ignorant OF the
party principles, casting their ballots by
direction of personal sympathy rather than
in support of political principle That was
well enough at the time, but its con-
tinuance will not be at all well.
1t will leave in our contests an uncertain
element, an element of doubt and distrust.
which will be a source of disturbance and
danger. not particularly injurious to the
parties but disquieting 10 the government.
What is needed here most is such a
thorough education of the masses that
every man will know exactly how he
stands with respect to the parties-will
knew in which principles he believes and
upon which side he should stand in the pol
itical alignment now taking place. The
way to acquire this education is through
the medium Of political clubs and associa-
tons, IN which the doctrines NAV be
taught, the principles elaborated and the
issues defined. These clubs should be so
numerous that they will reach all the peo
pie and they should supply themselves with
party literature, and also secure speakers
of ability and earGestness.
The HERALD urges upon the leading
Democrats in the cities and counties to
take the Initiative In this work; to organize
societies and hold frequent meetings. We
ask them to do this now, while there is
freedom from the excitement and passion
OF active campaigning, and thus prepare
the masses for the intelligent performance
OF the labor to come later. There ia no
good reason why every intelligent citizen
should not be made acquainted before
November with the principles of Democ-
racy, and we hope that when the polls shall
open next fall there will not be a voter in
Utah who will confess that he does not
know to which party he belongs