Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1896-08-25
A DISTURBED SITUATION.


IL cannot DO said that tho political
situation Of The corltfy presents a very
allufilg spectacle today. There mover
was time In To history Of the nation
wen matter were more completely
chopped ~" than now. There j.
division Everywhere, and disunion
permeaiot AMI diaturbs tho olossht tice
Of uatiolal family llic. Counting from
the head Of the nation down, II h
doubtful whether there has been any
othes period In the annals Of
this country when the more
Intimate relations Of iriendly life
could have been ~ readily effected by
political opinions ana preferences as
nov; certainly no period gives an illua'
ttailon Of their having been 10 affected.
In the retirement Of Hoko Smith from
the cabinet and the prompt, 10 say the
least, appointment OF David II.
Francis TO succeed him ~ secretary Of
tho interior. IL M Illustration the IKE
u which has never occurred bsiofc'
Secretary Smith IL said % be- on tho
beet terms with the President, 40 far o.
personal friendship IL concerned. He
IL also OF the same political faith, aud la
his policy as member Of the cabinet
was Ia accord with his chief. Yet
beoause Mt. Smith felt obliged to sus-
tain his party nomiuee for the pfusi.
doncy, In n way In which tho ai.
ministTatlon was not officially con-
cerned, no was dropped out. La bis
Individual choice he was not In
assord with the rest Of the cabinet,
although no was Officially, there
tore he IL impelled to retire ouly
few months prior 10 the close Of his
torn. An Standardization placed In
power by great political par
~ thus purgos itself Of q
member who maintains his party
allegiance In most conservative form.
This proceeding, coupled by the speedy
appointment Of Mr.. Smiths tuocarsor.
shows how completely the present AL
minittration has cut loose from tho
bulk OF the party that placed It 10
power.
This peculiar attitude OF what 10 pre-
tumed To DO tho party head towards
tbs body OF the organization has been
carried to an extent altogether uu-
known heretofore In this nation. But
II is not the only peculiar feature
OF the present condition. Looking
tho whole neld over, the promi.
nenl disunion noted IA seen to bo mere.
~ an Illustration Of what ia manifest
everywhere and In every party. There
is 10 be found Ia each combination
formed q centralized thought on some
leading topic, but complete dlstiml.
lariiy Of views on almost all other
topios which the party combination
has under consideration; there 10 IA.
tion and there Is disunion svery here,
with dl1cord predominaIlng. The 70.
suit IL that nobody In any party Ia fully
satisfied, and very many are at great
loss what 10 do.
This very uncertainty upon n gen.
eral well defined policy, and the de.
termination 10 force special issues 10 a
contamination, Ia iIaught with much
danger to tue Rspubllc-moro than
many people realize. IL may bo tn
case that the deposition Of tho Ameri.
can people 10 compromise rather than
10 engage In disturbances viii act no
oil on the troubled waters, until a safe
landing iaS'oole1; but 10 is also postl-
bic that the heat and turmoil
OF the great conflict at hauu
may be too much Tor tho bitterness Of
partisan strife where there are no many
factions, and that somebody may pass
the bounds VI deo3rum Ia the eager.
uesh 10 win. This year has given
abundant evidence Of tho disturbed
condition Of the elements. the outcome
otwhich hes been alogm and disaster;
there 10 also commoli0n Co The minds
Of men, and only cool and via, heads
VIII avert human storms ana diszstafs