The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1895-10-29
AN INDEPENDENT VIEW OF UTAH
POLITICS.

There are many people in Utah who
declare that there has been no cause
whatever for the present political ex-
citsment in this territory; that it is "a
grand stand play" by the leaders of
the Democratic party to make easy
the certain downfall of their party in
! the coming election. These assertions,
whether made honestly or dishonesty,
! for patriotic or political purposes, are
not true. No party in the United States
ever had greater proyocation for indig-
nation than the Democratic party of
| Utah has had since that now famous
priesthood meeting of Monday, October
Z. 1895.
/ In politics whatever affects a party
must be considered from the point of
view of its effects and not intentions
merely. The distinguished churchman
who precipitated the present crisis in
Utah had well prepared the way for
it by his preachings at the seni-annual
conference. Those preachings were
seized upon by the Tribune of this
city and declared to be the Republican
doctrine OF, protection. If member
of the First Presidency of the Mormon
church breaches such doctrine that a
Gentle Republican paper can endorse
it as Republicanism, are Democrats to
be blamed for seeing in such things an
improper use of church influence in
politics?
Not only did this Republican Tribune
look upon President Smiths talk about
the Lehi sugar factory as political, but
so did a distinguished lady who heard
him, lady we'll versed in politics and
whose clear vision sees which way the
straws point, although people may say
they point in a different direction. The
lady that heard President Smith was
Miss Kate Field, who has been a. stu
dent of our Utah politics. And what
is her Judgment on President Smiths
Lehi sugar discourse?
He preached what he called ITEM
poral gospel" In any other commune
ty on earth his discourse would have
been called a f1rSt-rate advertisement
for Lehi sugar and the Republican
party.
And are we not told daily by Repub-
lican papers and speakers that the peo-
pie of Utah are the same as people
elsewhere and are swayed by the same
arguments in politics? Then why
should not the people of Utah consider
that discourse a first-rate advertise
ment for the Republican party? 1t
most certainly was; of that there is
no doubt
But Miss Field, a. mere on-lool1er in
Utah with no interest in the world in
the success of the Democratic party,
in no way party to "a grand stand
play" seems to see in that discourse
politics and nothing but politics. She
says:
UnQuestionably he produced the de-
sired effect 1t is, perhaps, an unfore-
seen incident that in lecturing the |
Saints Brother Joseph helped his pock-
ct and his own political party. Doubt |
full bretheren learned that morning I
which way the First Presidency would |
vote on November s. Inspired prophets
must vote Gods ticket Pres
ident Woodruff bore his testimony TO
the truth of everything Brother Smith |
and Brother Cannon had said, so no
Saint went home wondering how the |
head Of the church would vote.
Miss Field thought that this would
raise the ire Of the Democratic party.
for at the conclusion of her letter she
says:
shall be greatly surprised if the
Democrats do not wax wroth over the
First Presidency's covert bid for Re
pubIcan votes. It makes a difference
whose OK is gored
Miss Field expected the Democrats to
be indignant and angry over this dis
course of President Smiths. Is it to
be wondered at. then, that they did
become indignant and angry and
wa1ed ''wrotll" when President Smith
aid the last hair on the camel's back
oy his remarks about Thatcher and
Roberts in that priesthood meeting.
-hough not naming them directly? ID
20 this time the Democrats of Utah
had been patient and forbearing, not
Tithstanding the provocation they had
1ad to endure beyond precedent. They
had endured till they could and would
endure no longer.
If Utah is in a hubub now and
doubts have been raised in the minds
II the people Of the nation about her
illness for Statehood, the cause for it
III is easily traced, but it can never
De traced to the doors of the Demo
cratic party.