The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1894-09-02
TO THE PEOPLE OF UTAH.


With the entrance of Utah into the
Union as a state, ION an equal footing
with the existing states it is important
that her people shall be fully impressed
with the importance of the change that
will occur in their position in reference
to national affairs, and that they be
able, from an intelligent understanding
of the true principles of government, tc
so frame their constitution that it shall
secure to them and their posterity the
blessings of that complete liberty which
is limited only by laws for the general
welfare.
Hitherto Utah has occupied a subor-
dinate position. Under the interpreta-
ton which has been given to the clause
in the Constitution as to the power OF
Congress over the territory of the
United States, Utah has been in the
past a mere satrapy. Her people have
not only been without q. voice in ma
tional affairs, but they have had nc
voice in the selection of persons to adj
minister the affairs of the territory
That will all be changed. Local self
government will be enjoyed, and by
vote and voice Utah will have influence
in the councils of the nation.
1t is of great importance, then, that
our citizens become acquainted with
the principles of government. These
are called politics. They need not en-
ter into the bitterness of extreme par
tisanship, but they should have clear
and definite views as to the policy and
doctrines of the two great parties OF
the country. There are two opposing
parties in every great nation, and they
appear to be necessary in order to form
a check on the dominant power, lestat
run into excuses which would be dis.
astrous to the body polite.
/ There is more than a seeming or insig
nificant difference in the tenets of the
two parties in the United States. The
Democratic. party is essentially the
party of the Constitution strictly con.
strued. The Republican party con.
tends for a looser Interpretation of thai
instrument, holding to the doctrine OF
implied powers, or the exercise oe au.
thority by the national government be,
yond that given to it in terms in the
supreme law.
The amendment to the Constitution
which reserves to the respective states
or to the people all the rights and pow.
ers not bestowed upon the government
in the Constitution, contains the Demo
cratic principle on this point 1t is the
safeguard Of liberty. If powers moi
expressly granted to the Federal gov.
eminent may be assumed by implica.
ton or inference, who can set the limit
to which they may be extended? 1t is
only by keeping within the line of de-
marcation laid down in that amend
ment, that the full rights of each state
and Of the people can be preserved.
One illustration of this difference ir
the doctrines of the two parties is af.
forded by the tariff Both parties be-
lieve in the necessity of tariff; that
is, in levying duties upon foreign i'm.
ports. The Constitution expressly for
bids the imposition Of duties by the
respective states upon articles pro
duced or manufactured in any state
and imported into another state. As
far as they are mutually concerned
the Constitution establishes absolute
free trade. But it also gives power tc
Congress to levy duties, customs and
imposts upon foreign imports.
But the Democratic party hold to the
strict letter of the Constitution, which
specifies what those duties may be lev.
led for. 1t is for the expenses of the
90 ant Sc
enue only. The Republican party, or
the principle of a loose construction OF
the Constitution and the assumption OF
implied powers, levies a tariff for the
avowed purpose of protecting certain
classes of the people, under the plea OF
promoting particular industries. When
asked for the clause in the Constitution
which confers this power, the answer
is-silence or an evasion of the ques-
ton.
1t viii readily be seen that to the
Democratic tariff there is defined
limit; it is the necessities of the govern.
ment economically administered Tt
the Republican tariff there is no de.
fined limit. It may be increased ac.
cording to the demands of the pro-
tected classes and the subserv:ence Of
the national legislators who may be-
elected through their influence, unit
the masses Of the people rise against
it as they did against the enormities Of
McKinleyism.
As to the Industries of the country
they receive all the protection that 1.
necessary in the incidental effects of g
revenue tariff. 1t is not levied for tht
purpose of favoring any class. But tht
very fact that a duty is imposed on
kind of article of foreign production
which is also produced in the United
States, operates as a protection to tn,
extent of the duty. The constitutions
principle, however, is fully maintained
in the purpose for which the duty il
levied.
The bounty system is an adjunct t,
or outgrowth of the protection princi
pie. 1t takes public money and give
1t to private individuals or corpora
tons. 1t is. a prostitution of the pow
ers of government and finds no war
rant in the Constitution. All the argu
ments in its favor are specious and ar
| IN the interest Of the classes instead O