The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1898-08-12
HE REPUBLICAN GRAND
STAND PLAY.



If one did not know the Republicans
of Utah so we'll, he might think they
We're going to assert their freedom from
party control and go it alone; but the
Republicans of Utah are not built that
way. When it comes to grand stand
plays. in which the rolling waves are
naught but painted factors, shaken by
ward heelers, the gold and the silver
are tinsel. and the moon a kerosene
lamp behind a piece of tissue paper, it
must be admitted that Republicans do
give some rather successful perform
ances. At these Republican perform
ances, like many other old fashioned
plays, some actor comes before the
curtain and recites the prologue,
wherein is told. in brief, the plot and
story of the play. The Republicans
have decided to give little perform
ance in which silver is to figure prom
inently.' This having been decided, a
prologue became necessary. 1t has
been furnished, and is spoken by Post
master A. L. Thomas. It runs as fol-
lows:
The Republicans of Utah have the
inherent right to publish to the world
their political beliefs. By no other
course can they make known their po-
ntical views. The claim is now made
by some that because in a national
platform certain principles are ar
nounced, it is the duty of Republicans
to stop thinking and to wait
for four years to find out
Xr-h n
the succeeding four years, and so on.
[ do not subscribe TO such doctrine.
Political principles are founded on con-
viction, and I cannot conceive of free
independent citizens changing their
convictions because they happen to be
a minority. 1 believe in party matters
the minority should yield to the ma
Jority, but that does not deprive the
minority OF the right of contending for
their views. The Republican party
does not expect nor ask such an alb
ject surrender of political manhood On
the part of its supporters. 1t recog-
niZes the right of a free people, so
long as they are members of a party
to contend for their political beliefs
within the party. l supported Presi-
dent Mckinley at the last election be-
cause L believed it right to stay with
my party and work for my political
not with my political enemies. Fur
Their, I knew President Mckinley to be
a man who would give US an admins
tration, as president, that would place
his name high among those of our
great presidents. The fresh glory of
the republic attests the wisdom of his
election.
Utah needs protection for her varied
interests. Our lead, wool and cattle
-
tration We're crushed and ruined. To-
day they are again prosperous. / be-
lieve that with united action consistent
with the past platform Of the party in
this state, that the Republicans have a
fair chance of carrying the state and
electing 4 Republican United States
senator and congressman.
We believe in silver, protection and
reciprocity. Why not say so, and let
the people know what We want? But,
believe in doing it within the party.
Brave words those, but there is more
of the tinkling cymbel and sounding
brass in them than anything.
Postmaster Thomas says that the
claim is made by some that because
in national platform certain princi-
pies are announced, il is the duty of
to stop thinking and to
wait four years to find out what they
must believe, but he says he does not
believe in such a doctrine Must not
every Republican wait until his party
in national convention declares what !
its position on any national question
is before it can be known what that
position is? And when the party, in
position on a question, must not all |
members of it accept that position until |
another national convention modifies or
changes it?
Postmaster Thomas says he believes |
hat in party matters the minority |
should yield to the majority, but that
hat does not deprive the minority of |
he right to contend for it's views. Very
rood. But must not loyal party men i
make their contention for the modifica-
ion or change of a national platform
If principles in a national convention?
AN they make declara ton in state
convention that is Numerically OPP
,osed to the declaration of the national
on the same subject and
till claim to be loyal?
Will Postmaster Thomas claim that
is the right of a county
and not of state
to define what the at
itude of the party is on any state
uestion. when the county conventions
osition is the very opposite of that
aiken by the state convention? A
ounty convention has the right to de-
ne the position of the party on any
tate question until the state conven-
ion has defined the partys position on
he same question, then the definition
the state convention becomes the
one. and If the two are in
onfiict then that of the greater au-
nority prevails. And this applies to
tate and national conventions. On