The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1892-02-16
FIDELITY TO PARTY.

No one can witness the i'll feeling mani
fest in the struggle for the Democratic
nomination for President of the United |
States without feelings of regret. 1t may !
be expected that among strong, AMBITIOUS
men mere or less bitterness will be engen-
dered in the struggle for so great prize;
and there will be more or less of selfishness
cropping out. But to say the nomination
of this man or that one by the national
convention will endanger the success OF the
party at the polls, is giving credence to the
existence of party intidelity which we do
not believe Democrats are guilty Of II they
are, they hold theinterests guarded by their
party very lightly indeed. Government
by and through parties raise the question
of candidate for Office above any personal
interest. The questions asked in consider
ing the fitness OF a candidate should not be
so much, Do like him personally Does
he look with friendly eye upon some pet
idea of this person or that, or of this sec
ton or that section! Albeit the idea is but
side issue 10 tho great and general ques-
ton involved in the conference.-the ques
ton, we repeat, is not go much, Is be
W luSSO SpGSlSA iuCGo. Dul, DSSS AS
embody in his life and character the prin-
ciples Of the Democratic partyl Does he
reflect the sentiment of the party On
the issues involved! If SO, he Is a
proper candidate, and if put before the
country by convention properly selected,
he should receive the unqualified support
of the party. To knife a regular nominee
of the party at the polls by voting for mis-
opponent or by staying away from the
polls, or by voting for person of the same
party as the regular nominee, but who is
not candidate. though he may be more
acceptable personally to the voter, by
which action the votes are lost to the party,
is treason to the party and cannot be too
vigorously censured. For person 70 bolt
his party's nominee and set up one of his
own is setting up his individual wisdom
as superior to the combined wisdom and
Judgment of nis party, thing which does
not speak well for the modesty OF the in
dividual, to say the least and which is I'M
safe, and viii be so as long as the truism Of
LINCOLN holds good, that every body knows
more than anybody.
We believe it is wrong for the Demo-
cratic press of the country to hold out the
idea that if this man or that man is nomi-
mated by the great Democratic convention
10 assemble in Chicago next summer, the
Democratic party will BE unsuccessful at
the polls. Such tone is demoralizing and
may do much to encourage party infidelity,
a thing which should not be couutenanced ;
no. not even so much as by remotely limiting
it is possible. Let it be discountenanced
wherever and whenever it appears. Fidel-
ity to party should be held as sacred as
allegiance to country. Indeed, it is such
when party il worth anything. A party's
platform is the Interpretation of the con-
stitution, Of the government, to the mem
bers of that party; and to them that plat
form statss the policy which lawfully the
government may pursue for the welfare of
the country underline constitution. Hence
allegiance to that party and allegiance to
country are identical, from which no per.
sonal consideration will move any good
Democrat.
Democrats should be taught confidence
in their party and in the wisdom of its con.
, ventions. Delegates interested alike In
: the country and in the party-the interests
Of the one is identical with the interests OF
the other-they will be men of sound iudg.
ment by whom all the issues before the
country will be canvassed and they may
, be trusted to draft platform which will
best represent the faith of the party and
( its interests involved in the contest which
such action will inaugurate. Then let i,
be GROVER CLEVELAND or DAVID B.
HILL, or some candidate from the
west let it be understood that
Democrats everywhere will support tina,
candidate with all their hearts, and those
! VINO do not should be branded traitors tC
their party. Let the leaders talk and ac
z like men having full confidence in the fidel
? ity Of the party; let them tolerate M
: threats of boiling the party's nominees
and it will be found that such action will
> go far towards securing party fidelity.