The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1897-01-20
THE FIRST BALLOT.

ent promises to be a very spirited con-
test; it may be short or it may be long,
but it will be spirited Everybody is in
terested in the result, the candidates,
their friends and the general public.
A great deal of anxiety and solicit
tude is manifested in various quarters
lest the legislature shall commit some
| terrible mistake, a mistake fraught
with as many evil consequences to the
state as original sin was to mankind.
Thus a morning contemporary tells US
that our state is peculiar. We have
advertised to the world that the differ
ences which separated us in the past
have all passed away" The adver-
tisement is still running. and no doubt
the Democratic legislature would be
glad to have the public call and exam
inc all the goods displayed, having no
fear that they will not stand all tests,
both for shrinkage and fast colors.
Our contemporary closes its article
with this:
By their acts they will give notice to
the state and to the country whether
Utah is absolutely redeemed or not;
whether it is in spirit and in truth an
American state or not, and with that
responsibility held up before these law
makers, the people viii watch the re-
suit with more interest than ever they
have watched any other result since
the organization of Utah territory.
We fancy there is not a member of
the legislature who does not sense his
or her responsibility, and who will not
endeavor to do his or her duty accord
ing to his or her best light. The fate
of Utah by no means depends upon the
choice of this or that or the
other man for United States
senator. No doubt everyone has
his preference for senator and thinks
his election would be much better
for the interests of the state than
the election of any other candidate. We
do not believe that the interests of
Utah would be jeopardized by the cleo
ton of any one of the five Democrats
voted for yesterday. We do not believe
that the non-election of any of the gem
tlemen voted for yesterday would be an
evidence that the people of Utah are
not doing all that they advertised to
the world that tbey would do. Utah
politics has passed the stage where
party alignments depend upon the cleo
ton or non-election of this OF. that man
in either party. If it has not, it is in
very weak and sickly condition, with
faint hopes of ever growing stronger.
The man who is elected to the United
States senate by the Utah legislature
must be a Democrat, and a free silver
man; that IS a sine qua non That is
the solid sentiment of the Democratic
party. There will be little chance for
dispute on this point; and our contem-
porary is right in saying silver was the
chief issue in the late campaign. But
does not the Democratic legislature
realize all this? 1t certainly does.
And now as to political independence.
If the Democratic party in Utah has
not been Independent, pray, where is
the party that has been? 1t has
fought the fight for liberty in Utah,
since the division on party lines, as it
has fought it throughout the land.
And when it was making It's hardest
fight, and that not so very long ago.
there was not half the anxiety for DO
Iitical independence exhibited in GER
tain Republican quarters that is ex-
hibited today We all know what has
been the curse of Utah politics in the
past, and all should endeavor to let
the dead past bury its dead. The curse
of Utah politics has been that all the
people have been dominated either by
a church or an anti-church influence.
And the man who, today, be he legis-
lator or be he layman, permits his
actions to be controlled by the one
or the other influence is not worthy of
the confidence of the people, so far as
public office is concerned. And while
this senatorial contest is on; while
there is more or less excitement in
consequence of it and some danger of
old prejudices being revived and
worked upon, the members of the leg
islature should be particularly careful
not to come under either influence, but
should be guided solely by desire TO
select the best man possible to rep
resent Utah in the senate. If the best
interests of Utah and the Democratic
party guide the legislators in their
choice of a United States senator, there
is small likelihood that any mistake
will be made, no matter who may be
chosen senator.
And now as to the party aspect of
the case. Every Democrat in the Iegis-
lature should constantly bear in mind
that while there are a number of can
didates for the senatorship, they are
all Democrats, men who have served
their party well and faithfully in the
past, and who will continue to serve
their party well and faithfully in the