The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1895-08-12
THE &CITIZEN's DUTY.


1t is not uncommon to hear some in
eelligent people remark, Il don't want
to have anything to do with politics"
or Il don't take any stock in politics"
This to us shows a lack of reflection
and of that interest which all citizens
should take in the affairs of the nation
and Of the state, county and city in
which they reside.
In this country every adult citizen
should take an active part in political
affairs. If for no other reason, because
this is a popular government in which
every citizen has responsibilities and
duties and interests equally with his
fellow citizens. In saying that all cit
zens should take an active part in
politics, we do not mean that they
should engage in the contentious or
get down to the methods common
among that class called professional
politicians.
Genuine politics implies patriotism. 1t
means regard for the public welfare.
1t signifies desire for pure government,
and that means the greatest good to
the greatest number of the people.
The noise, confusion, wire-pulling,
strife. foul language, triclSeiy, liquor
drinking and other disreputable things
that enter too often into political cam
paigns must not be confounded with
politics. They are the follies and
vagaries and excuses of men.
1t is because a great many of the
best people morally refrain from TAX
ing an active part in political affairs,
that encouragement is given to the
class which has been able for many
years to manipulate election matters
\ reformation is needed in this respect
Not only should the best people of the
country Engage in practical politics,
but the best persons should be chosen
to occupy official positions 1t is often
said that the stream cannot rise
higher than its fountain. The source
of the stream Of political affairs in this
country is the voting population.
An evening contemporary recently
had an excellent editorial showing the
necessity for every citizen in Utah to
act SO as to insure official integrity and
cleanliness, and that to do this they
must attend the primaries, send only
fit men to the conventions to nomi-
nate political tickets, and vote only
for good, honorable and fit candidates
for positions in the gift of the people
We are in full harmony with those
sentiments. If our influential and
worthy citizens do not go to the pri-
maries, but leave them to others ard
to be manipulated by the professional
steerers and hired manipulators, what
kind of delegates will be sent to the
conventions and what kind of candi-
dates may be expected to be placed on
the tickets formed for the people to
vote upon?
We consider it the duty of every cit
izen endowed with the elective fran
chise to exercise the political power
that is conferred upon him. 1t is his
duty to vote at elections. 1t is equal
~ his duty to perform his part in the
selection of candidates to be voted for.
neglect to take part in the !
primaries is equally wrong as neglect !
to use the ballot at elections.
We hope the good men and good
women of Utah will appreciate the /
force of this and that they will act ac-
cordingly. Politics is not necessarily a /
filthy pool. If it is made so, it is be- /
cause low class men have had the run
of affairs. Let every respectable and /
influential man and woman in Utah !
take hand, if not a broom, and make /
Utah politics clean and such as all
honorable people may be proud of.