Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1897-03-16
POLITICAL INTOLERANCE.

Tho State Constitution requires
secret ballot In UtRb, making n pro.
vision Therefor mandatory upon the
Legislature; the statutes passed In pur-
Buance Of this instruction provide that
voters shall bs tree from any intimida-
lion, that they shall make up their
ballots free from the Inspection Of any
individual, aud that no election
Ufilcer or watcher shall express even
an opinion as to how an elect1r voted;
and q severe punishment is ordered
for n disregard OF these provisions.
The purpose of all this is to preserve
the freedom OF the ballot In this State;
for In such freedom Ia tho safety OF the
peoples Liberties. The aim Is that no
eloctor shall be threatened or intimi.
dated in advanpe OF the election, to
rfiect his vote; and that the way in
which he voted shall not bs revealed
to subject him to punishment for act
Ing freely In the exercise OF the
elective fnraohlse.
In view OF this care with which the
freedom OF the ballot 10 sought to be
guarded, IN the letter OF the Constitu-
ton and laws of the State. both before
and after voting. what will the people
say of the action of the Senate at this
session OF tho Legislature? What
must they say? Tho record is plain
on which to baee a judgment. Gov.
ernor Wells sent to the eeuate nOmi-
nations from tho III rent political
partles, rs tho law requires. When
some OF the nominees came up for
consideration, they were pursued into
the ballot box, ana for their action
there, guaranteed by tho Constitution
and laws TO be free TO them, they were
publicly snubbed ana insulted by
being turned down, and to that extent
were they punished by the Senate.
Tho head anu front OF their offending
was the way they voted. Nothing
else was charged, nothing else init.
mated; the competency Of the men for
the positions named was beyond quos.
ton. But they had supported and
voted for the regular Republican
ticket in this State, which they had u
constitutional right to do, were
dubbed "goldbugs" and the nomlna.
iions rejected for that cause, which
the Senate had no constitutional right
TO do. The very reason for the
action taken il violation OF
the spirit Of the Constitution
m infringement OF political
liberty. A very small minority OF the
Senate raised protest against this
course-the grossest political tyranny
and intolerance ever exhibited by
legislative body In Utah.
This being the situation, people
who love and Insist on full political
liberty can have but one thing to say.
They know that man who viii not
deal fairly anu Justly with another,
because that other differs with him In
political or religious convictions, Is
not worthy their lull confidence In the
governing power OF the common
wealth. A legislative senate may
hold up to ridicule or denunclation a
"Roldbug" today; It may be n "silver.
lite" tomorrow, or q "uhiODist" the
next day. But when the application
OF these teFmH !s made through the
way man votes, 1t is forbidden by
the Constitution and therefore must be
condemned bnd rebuked by tie people,
II they would preserve their own free.
dom from assaults OF bigotry in poll
ties. 1t is not question OF political
party; II Ia u matter that concerns the
liberty Of the ciiizen 10 expresc his
will at the ballot box,