The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1896-04-21
TO DEsroNDEsT DEMOCRATS.


1t comes to us from various parts
of the state that there has fallen upon
Democrats in some quarters a spirit
of Indifference as to any interest in
politics; and some are saying that they
will have nothing further TO do with
it.
That kind of talk of course pro-
claims encouragement. It plainly says
that hope of success is gone. and the
individual who gives way TO that spirit
of dependency yields the field TO his
opponent, stacks his arms, and listens
in sullen silence to the shouts of the
victor
Is that what brave men battling for
correct principles do? Is that the
spirit of Democracy? Does its hands
droop in the hour of trial? Has it
not the courage to endure defeat, and
live down disappointment? Has it not
the virtue Of patience? Like spoiled
and pampered child does it refuse to
play because it cannot have its own
way in matters of success?
We are free to confess that we do
not understand such to be the spirit
of Democracy. We have always be-
lieved that spirit to be quite the con-
trary of all this. 1t chooses the right
with invincible resolution; it bears the
heaviest burdens of disappointment
cheerfully; it is calmest in storms and
most fearless under menace and
frowns; its reliance on truth is most
unfaltering, and believing in the ulti-
mate triumph of truth there must not
be, there cannot be, any such thing as
discouragement-it is and must be,
when you come to think of it, an I'M
known quality to the real spirit of
Democracy.
Thus we would talk if things for the
party were at their worst: for we
would remember that when things are
at their worst they sometimes mend.
But things Democratic in Utah are
not SO bad as 70 be at their worst,
and every day they grow brighter,
both in state and nation.
The probability that the silver Demo-
Gratis will carry the national conven-
ton for the free, unlimited and indie
pendent coinage Of silver grows more
likely every day; and doing that-since
it is foregone conclusion that the Re
publican convention at ST. Louis will
declare for the single gold standard
what will prevent the Democrats from
carrying Utah for the national ticket?
electing the member to congress, to-
gether with a local Democratic legis-
lature to elect Democratic senator to
stand in the place of the Republican
senator who is for tariff first and sill
yer afterwards?
This is not impossible or improbable.
1t will come to pass as surely as the
Democratic national convention de-
clares for free silver.
And even aside from that, our
chances are equal to those of our op-
ponents. The electorate of the state
since last falls campaign has been en-
larged by something like forty thou
sand voters; and we have good ground
for believing that the Democratic par
ty will get more of those votes than
the Republican party will; and the
work of redeeming Utah from Republi-
can control can begin in the next cam
paign.
In the presence of no prospect is it
the part of a Democrat to become de-
spondent? In the presence of our pros
poets there is no reason for it what
ever. Never let it be said that Demo-
Gratis lost state by despair, or VIC
tory by default. Let US work.