The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1894-08-19
HOME INDUSTRIES AND POLITICS.

The leading minds among the people
who first settled this territory were
strong advocates of home Industries
They saw the advantages and, more
than that, tie actual necessity of a
self-supporting policy. Isolated as this
community was from the producing and
manufacturing regions and the centers
Iof trade and commerce, self-reliance
and the home production of what was
needed at home, became essential to
existence to say nothing of prosperity.
But Notwithstanding all the efforts
and examples of those wise men, i'm
portations were made and eagerly
looked for, because ii was impossible
for the new colonists to supply them
selves with many articles which, if not
essential to existence, are necessary to
comfort and enjoyment. However. the
home industry movement was saga
ciously pressed and a great deal was
accomplished in that direction.
When the facilities for intercourse
with the outside world were improved,
and goods Of all kinds were brought in
to the territory by persons engaged in
selling more than in making such
things, the policy of home producing
was still advocated as a measure of
domestic economy, and added to that
was the advice that the permanent res
idents should support each other rather
than transients. This was matter of
fraternity as we'll as of economy. What
money was available would be retained
for home circulation and home indus
tries and brotherly feeling would be
maintained
All that had nothing to do with po-
lticai parties or their principles
There was no division on party lines.
The question as to what political or
ganiZation was most in favor of that
line Of procedure was not discussed.
The Republican party was not in ex-
istence. When it was organized and
commenced its assault on Utah, rs it
did in its very first platform, continu-
ing it with increased vehemence at
each successive convention, there was
no thought in Utah as to any connec-
ton with the home industry policy
and the party which opened war upon
this community.
We draw attention to these facts be-
cause one of the many deceptive sub
terfuges with which Republican stump
speakers are seeking to beguile the
people in the rural districts, is that
home industry and Republicanism are
identical, or at least interchangeable
terms, and therefore those leading
men who started and promoted and
urged home industries were Republic
ans in politics.
OF course if that were true, it should
not affect present action or party affil-
iation because it does not apply to
present issues. But it is not true.
strongest kind of Democrats in political
belief, though they did not then align
themselves with any political party.
We do not cite that fact as an induce
ment to any person to be a Democrat
today. 1t is only to set the matter
straight.
The sentiments and principles set
forth in all the platforms and declara-
tons of the Peoples party were Dem
pressive enactments of the Republican
party with which the Peoples party
had chiefly to contend. That we do
not adduce as a reason why people
now should be Democrats. 1t is to meet
the tricky insinuations Of the Republic
ans that we mention these matters of
history. They are beyond dispute by
truthful people.
Home industries are perfectly COM
patible with Democratic principles and
Democrats are engaged in their promo
ton with as much zeal as any other
partisans. The doctrine of protection
and bounties which has gone to such
an extreme in the Republican party, is
a political heresy, built upon sectional
ism and selfishness, and not beneficial
to the nation becauSe it bestows special
privileges upon a few for which the
many have to pay and it devotes public
money to private uses. Home indus
tries can be made to prosper without
any such improper and artificial slim
ulation and all private interests and
projects ought to be on plane Of
equality.
Each party has the right to its opin-
ion on these economic questions, but
no party has the right to claim for it
self exclusively that which belongs at
least equally to its opponent. AS a
matter of fact Democrats have been
in Utah consistent and practical
friends to home development. They
are so today. If they do not believe
i
pay for the support of some selected
private business that does not make
them enemies to enterprise. The early
settlers of Utah and their leaders in
and urging home industries
did so without reference in any way to
politics or to political parties