The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1895-01-27

laws are enacted to punish persons
who attempt to corrupt election Off
GERS or the machinery and methods Of
elections. They ought to be rigidly en-
forced. Party station, standing, wealth
or any other consideration ought not
to have the weight Of a speck of down
on a moths wing, in melting out JUS
tice to the guilty conVSted of fraud in
election affairs.
In forming the new State of Utah
this matter should receive the most
careful attentino of the constitution
trainers. The very best means Of en-
suring absolute honesty and accuracy
in balloting and counting ought to be
devised or adopted. A government of
the people cannot be maintained unless
| the voice of the people is truly record
ed and carried into execution.
The sacredness of the ballot ought to
be impressed upon the minds of our
youth, that they may grow up to re-
gard it in its proper light. A pure
government is impossible in a republic,
unless the people are pure and unless
|
truly express the voice of the majority.
Every freeman and patriot should use
his influence to establish and maintain
the integrity of the ballot, and to dis
courage and finally abolish every
means and faint of electoral corruption.
This should be part Of the political
religion of every citizen. It is not a,
question of party, but of principle.
The idea which, though not expressed
/ in words, seems to be embodied in
deeds, that political trickery and dis
honesty are different to business
chicanery and theft, that lying for
party is justifable while lying for
money is unjustifiable, that all is fair
in politics, is not only false in theory
but is dishonorabe, pernicious and dam
nable in practice. It is righteousness
that eXalts a nation and the quality
of any nation is that of the aggregate
| if it's citizens. Political honesty, jus
tice and truth must therefore, be inn
/ planted in the public heart and be
manifested in private and public con-
duct.
Men may sincerely differ in opinion
on any public question. The difference
may be expected as "a result of indie
pendent thought. But there can be- no
difference of belief in honorable minds
on the simple question of honesty and
purity in obtaining and presenting the
voice of the people at the polls.
! Matters of policy and belief are open
to debate. Citizens ought in them also
to be guided by honest conviction.
Acquiescing in a perceived wrong be-
cause it is a party measure, working
with and for a party whose doctrines
one disbelieves, following a multitude
to do anything which conscience does
not approve, are all Of piece with cor
rupt conduct in elections though it
may not be punishable by law or so
! essentially criminal.
To have purity in politics there must
be sincerity in politics, and that must
move on the heart and influence ac-
ton in reference to choice of party
as we'll as to support of platforms and
selection of candidates. And not until
that sincerity governs will the grosser
wrongs of election frauds and political
| jugglery be eliminated from our politi-
cal affairs. Utah of all places in this
country. ought to be the freest from
every kind of political impurity. Let
every true and patriotic citizen strive
to make it SO.