The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1900-03-11
REPUBLICAN DISHONESTY.

We believe that the people of Utah
WIZ see something more in the election
Of a mel-.ber of congress than a purely
local issue that was buried several
years ago and would never have beHn
resurrected except that it could be used
by the Republican organ of this state
as an instrument of malevolence and
spite. But for all that. the voters Of
Utah, without reference to political or
religious belief, should not lose sight
Of the methods pursued by Mr.. Ham
mond's newspaper and by Mr.. Ham
mond himself. No people ever before
had spread before them such a rare
exhibition of political hypocrisy and
dishonesty, and there sre lessons to be
drawn from the situation.
The Democratic state convention ex-
pressed its faith in the people and de-
MED the charge that the citizens of the
whole state were a community Of
pledge breakers; furthermore, it took
the position that when a member-elect
presented himself at the door OF con-
gress with regular credentials and a
prima facie right to a. seat, the consti-
tuition made it duty of congress to
administer the oath to that member,
and so believing the Democratic con-
ventiOn deplored that the oath was not
administered to Mr.. Roberts. There
were eighty-five members of congress,
including Mr.. Littlefield Of Maine, who
took precisely the same position and
who also deplOred the unconstitutional
methods employed.
1t is known that Mr. Hammond, the
Republican candidate, privately en-
dorses every word of that Democratic
resolution and that he desired the Re-
publican convention to make a similar
declaration, although he now lacks the
manhood and courage to publicly ex-
press faith in the integrity of the pao-
pie whose votes he solicits, or to give
an open expression of his views upon
the sole issue raised in his behalf
Moreover, the Republican candidate
stands upon a platform that gives full
endorsement TO the elevation of motor
ious polygamists to high federal office
and to their retention in office.
Yet, under these conditions, there is
in this city a newspaper that dishon-
estly conceals the attitude Of the Re
publican candidate. that deliberately
falsifies the record of the Democratic
convention, that lies about the position
of the Democratic candidate, and day
after day solemnly declares that the
election of Mr.. King would grossly Of
fend the nation, while the election of
Mr.. Hammond would offend the ma
ton not at all And it is
Mr.. Hammond's organ that is engaged
in this dishonest work What do the
decent people OF this city think of such
a candidate and such an organ and
such a cause? What co the people of
the entire state think Of candidate
for such exalted office who is too cow
ardly to say that he has faith in the
honesty Of the people whose support he
solicits?
Is there a man or woman in the
state, no matter how strongly opposed
to the practice of polygamy. who can
see in the election of Mr.. King any
endorsement of that practice, or in the
election of Mr.. Hammond any repudia-
ton Of polygamy?
Is it not clear to the dullest compre-
hension that the purpose of these dis
honest Hanna schemers is, by raising
a false cry. to trick the people of Utah
into an endorsement Of ali the rascah-
ties and scandals and infamies that
have run riot at the national capital
during the reign of William the Weak,
and hlled with disgust the best men of
the Republican party?
Is this the sum and substance of the
Republican campaign? Then no deeper
disgrace could befall a state than the
success of such a programme