The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1892-08-21
ON GENERALIZATION.
The Neutral Drift of PaternaIism
in Government.
JUDGE j. w. JUDD ON THE ISSUE.
True Democracy Stands for Right and Equal
iIy, Whilst Capitalization Leads to
Misrule and Anarchy.
To the Editor of TIE HERALD:

To the Editor OF THE HERALD:
have been reading Herbert Spencer on
tine science of government and the princi-
pies Of political economy, and, if I read him
Alright, he proves to my mind and beyond
any doubt what | have always felt to be q
truth Though not so clearly defined in my
mind until l read him), that the paternal
idea OF government breeds the worst form
of socialism and inevitably leads to anarchy
and tyranny.
Instances without number could be cited
Rome was free republic until she lazy re-
lance of her people found convenient
resort in looking to the government to do
for them what they should have done for
themselves. Our people ought to take warn
lag Events are transporting now with
such rapidity that no one seems to know or
care where we are drifting. You hear it
said now on every corner that the tendency
of government amongst civilized people is
democratic. This is not So and when our
pseudo statesmen assert it they do not
know what they are saying. The tendency,
yea even worse, the drift is towards com
munism and socialism. This is mistakenly
called democracy.
What is true democracy or democratic
governmental 1t is that government which
is not only based upon but is the very
essence of an independent and self-reliant
citizenship. 1t knows no class nor sect.
The rule of the survival of the fittesr,
coupled with the maxim, $50 use your own
es not to injure another" Is the funda-
mental idea In short the whole duty of
the government is to preserve order;
protect its citizens in the enjoyment of
life, liberty and property; give every man
an equal start in the race OF life; to let
him develop his manhood and then RELY
upon ii for his own welfare and up build :
ing; to give special privileges to none, but
equal and exact justice to all. In this the
slothful who would shift the responsible
ity Of individual action upon the govern
ment, or the selfish who seeks to build up
HIS fortune by getting favors from the gov
eminent, finds, l acknowledge, but little
comfort
Contrast my definition of democratic
government with what we have today.
Under the doctrine of protective tariffs, as
well as in many other ways, the power of
the government has been not only invoked
but actually put in motion TO benefit classes
of citizens. Some say that the benefit is to
the protected industry, others say that it is
10 the laborlng classes, and yet others say
that il benefits the farmer, and hence all
are benefited.
1t is wholly immaterial whore the truth
OF the contention may be- What l am deal
ing with is the system. The open and I'M
contested fact is that the government is
being used 10 help classes of her citizens.
This cannot be done without putting
burden upon those not helped, and giving
an advantage 10 those who are.
But suppose this be not true, though
such q sapposition would seem most illosl-
cal; the result at which | am coming must
needs be the same. The laborer is taught
from both the speech and pen of statesmen
that the tariff is levied for his benefit and
for the purpose of increasing his wages
This is frank admission that the govern
ment is paternal and not democratic
Let US examine the results TO which this
leads. The people engaged in manufacture
ing, il must be admitted by all, get some of
the benefits of the protection, for they all
want it, vote for it and implead Congress
for il. Men are not prone TO seek what is
Of no benefit to them. Human nature can
not be ignored in business affairs any more
than 1T can in other affairs of llfe Having
gotten this protection from the govern
ment with its resultant benefits, il is but
natural that others should. through the
same channels seek the same benefits.
This, of course. brings competition. Com
petition necessarily diminishes the benefits
by reducing the profits. Herein is gener-
ated that most dangerous OF all things 10
healthy and active commerce-the s'trustn
or combine" They, of course. are organ
lied 10 defeat competition. Active and
competitive commerce is the sine Qua non
OF democratic government because II tends
TO develop the manhood of the citizen and
make him self-relant.
Let ii be admitted also, that the men who
work TOR the manufacturer get q benefit
from the protective tariff; then the case is
not helped, for here we have two classes
who are being favored by the government
instead of one. Somebody, of course is
bearing burden. The increased price
which the manufacturer gets for his wares.
and the increased price of the wages of
his employee, are certainly not paid bv
themselves, but must assuredly be paid by
the person VINO consumes or uses what is
made. There is suggestion of unfairness
about all this that must challenge the mind
Of the thoughtful.
But it does not stop here. Other peoule
seeing that some are gaining an ADVANTAGE
by being favored oy the government have
their selhshness quickened thereby and
they In turn appeal TO the government for
favors by way of class legislation II is |
curious in what shapes this thing develops
Here is q sample:
] received letter not long since from 8 |
friend OF mine IN Florida who is engaged in |
the orange and lemon culture, and who has |
been lifelong and uncompromisinc Dem |
Ocrat He writes me thus: John. j am |
rapidly coming to belief In the Repub BIZ !