The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1896-06-20

ST. LOUIS. June 1s.-The boiling
silver men have issued the following
address:
To the People of the United States:
Obeying the call OF duty, and justi-
fed by the common citizenship of this
republic, we address this communica-
ton TO the people and the forthcoming
conventions OF the United States. In
doing so, we claim no authority or
right ether than that which belongs to
every man to express personal convic-
tons: but we respectfully solicit the
cooperation of all who believe that
the time has come for a return to the
simpler and more direct method OF
naming men for national service than
has obtained in recent years.
Political party organization is neces-
sary, because without il the individual
voter is dumb, but the party is only
the means, not the end-it is the voice
and not the sense. AS the world ad-
rances TO this wonderful. epoch of in
tellectual development and physical
improvement, there is a constant re-
quirement for better things. The in
dividual feels that requirement and
heeds ii or fails in Iife's endeavor. Par
ties must also obey the same law. 1t
follows, therefore, that the moment a
party shall
CHOOSE TO STAND STILL
or retrogress it also becomes inefficient
to achieve the end to which the people
are necessarily destined. There is no
sanctity in mere party name. and the
mark Of decay is set on Individual
strength in the nation when the abso-
lutte rule of political organization CO.
erces men from the truth for the sake
OF eXpediency and establishes insincere
submission to partisan rule for the
sake of power.
Recognizing the value of the splen-
did achievements of political parties in
this country, as elsewhere, we are yet
constrained to believe that for more
than twenty years no one of them has
been entirely sufficient for the needs of
the people The great trend to better
things, resting in the heart and pur-
pose of all men, has been stayed dur
ing the latter part Of this generation
by the failure of parties TO express in
their achievements the highest hope
and aspirations OF
THE MASS OF THE PEOPLE
who constitute the parties. And there
has been growing in this country,
swelling with each recurrence of ma
tional elections, a great mass of indie
pendent thinkers and voters. which,
failing within itself TO control, has
gravitated between the two great par
ties. Since 1872 (excepting possibly the
election OF 1876 the pendulum has
swung from side to side with each four
years. In 1872 the Republican party
elected the president, in 1875 the DEM
ccracy claimed the election, in 1880 the
Republican party elected. in 1884 the
Democrats elected, in 1888 the RepuD-
licans elected, in 1882 the Democrats
elected, in 1895 Glntil within a few
weeks it has been conceded that the
Republicans would elect.
WHAT HAS BEEN THE CAUSE
OF this mighty oscillation of a mass
which this year has probably obtained
controlling proportions? Every man can
answer himself. II he mas been an OBJ
server; if he has had interests that
were affected; if he has felt 4 hope to
see greater justice done, and aas seen
that hope blasted: If he knows that
the general dissatisfaction has arisen
from the fact that party promises
made we're broken to the people by
party performance, he knows that as
soon as the election was over and the
successful candidates installed they
became the servitors Of the party and
the advocates of a narrow and nom
there seemed to be an assurance Of sell
fish safety and partisan approval Gir-
ing all this period we have lacked a
great constructive administration.
no NEW SOCIAL TRUTH
has been put forward in an effective
way. While in all the departments OF
physical life there have been develop
ments and achievements Of ease and
comfort TO the favored Of mankind, in
The still greater and more important
domain OF social reform, we have
stood still or retrogressed.
it is not that the people nave not
felt the STRINGS of determination that
this inaction has endured. but because
Of the rule Of party which has largely
controlled men in and out of Office It
has been q source Of reproach to any
man that he should dare to renounce
allegiance 10 organization. Men have
been expected TO submit their views
to the dictation of conventions, al
though it is common knowledge that
conventions have been swayed to views
and declarations not The most approved
by the mass OF people nor progressive
FOR their welfare.
We do not arrogate to ourselves one
iota more Of Intelligence. patriotism
or courage than is possessed by other
of our fellow citizens. But Ue feel
that
THE TINE HAS COME
for The performance Of a duty to the
country. and for our part, though we
shall stand alone. We viii make an en-
deaVor in the direction of that duty.
Parties may outlive their usefulness.
that truth never becomes obsolete.
Every. generation Of freemen has thu
right to affirm the truths of past
knowledge and present requirements
and If the enforcement of these truths
shall make necessary q departure from
party organization. the people have this
right and will exercise ii until the old
parties shall return To the truth or
rev parties snail be created 10 effect
il into law.
II che voices which have sounded to
US from every state in this Union ara
an indication of the real feelings. this
year is the appointed time for the peo-
pie to assert themselves through such
mediums as may give best promise o!
The achievement OF justice. But
whether we are mistaken OF not con-
corning the general sentiment in the
United States, we have
NOT MISTAKEN OUR OWN DUTY
in withdrawing from the Republican
convention, feeling that it is better 10
BE right and with the minority in APP
ssrent defeat than to be wrong with