Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1900-08-28
SHOULD WE AVOID POLITICS

SHOULD WE AVOID fbLlIltht
II ls related by q candidate for
political office 90 q western shire 100
England. that during bis canvass Doe
asked a raw c0uutryman, who was
tending sheep. 60 give him his vote.
VOTER inquired the man Of nocks
removing his hat 10 stimulate the flow
OF bis Ideas. voter What be- that.
hwever?' 40 you take no interest 90
politics. that you don't know what a
vote isY retorted the other A ray Of
comprehension pierced the shepherds
BRAIN u knaws the Urinary sort Of
tick. but I've nlyer yeard o. these poly
'uns afoor ! s'p0se 'tIs q fresh kind"
That story illustrates the extreme
Of Ignorance. There IS another extreme
to the subject Of politics and that Is
indifference. In America, while there
is great deal OF ignorance on political
questions, the eyIl OF indifference is
much greater, and extends TO more
classes Of The population. The edu-
Gated and wealthy are often as care
less IN reference to public questions
and candidates. as the less-informed
and poorer classes. Indeed. many as
sumo an air OF superiority when they
ayow that they take no stock In pol
iucs,' and speak OF politicians as
though they were TO be either snubbed
or ignored
IN a government Of the people, for
the people and by the people" every
Individual capable OF voting should
take an interest in politics II Is not
necessary to Doe O professional "p0ltI
clan" a w'ro-puller, log-roler q
schemer for place and palf "a mauipu-
lator for some scheme or person. But
a citizen entrusted with the power OF
the ballot. ought TO use 10 for good pur-
poses. and therefore should have some
knowledge OF the questions 70 be decid-
ed ana Of the candidates TO be voted for
at an election, and should have SUM-
Client interest in these public matters
TO form an intelligent opinion concern
iug them.
j. Is not TO be expected that the
masses Of the people win be deep stu-
dents Of political theories. or Jealous
advocates Of party measures and uomi-
nees. But they ought 20 bestow SUITE
Client attention upon them 10 arrive at
personal conviction as 10 the course
they should pursue 10 relation 20
them.
In a country where the people are
governed by monarchIal or arisjocratlc
power. ignorance and indifference as
10 ruling influences and political mels-
ures may be 20 some extent pard0uabla.
But In this great Republic in which
the people ore sovereign. and where
the responsibility for wrong policies
and incompetent or dishonest officials
reyerts upon the people who vote for
them, both ignorance and indifference
are inexcusable
That there Is much deception, CHI
cancry and trickery IN political meth
DDS may be frankly admitted. But
that forms no reason FOR the apathy
OF many thousands OF American elite
zeus. as 20 matters that concern them
an. and IN which everyone Of them
should take an Interested and active
part. Citizenship not only brings priv
ileges and rights but duties and re-
sponslbillties.
These. however do not involve in-
tense partisanshIp. There are higher
conslacrutions than the success OF "a
political party or faction. Truth, right
reason and the general welfare, are tlr
above mere partisan measures and the
triumph Of partisan candidates. Good
men and wise men ye should observe
90 uphold" is the divine injunction
That should be guide in political
movements. especially 20 The people
who form the majority On Utah
But this does not necessarily signify
lack OF zeal in promoting any measure
OF the claims of any party num'H.. f.r
public office. "What thy hand Gu1a'h
70 do. DO 1t with AN thy might" and
whatever SIS worth doing is worth
doing wei" are sayings equally app...
cable and worthy of practice. When
man 0r woman becomes convinced
Of the Justice and propraty 0f any
political project. decided by the mae
jorp OF % party 90 which hg or ah.
is attached vg7r and vigilance iu proc
noting % arc 60 be- expected and ave
worthy of commentator ra'her than
rIiicule or rarrobau1n
Activity and enthusiasm. however
should NOT extend 90 unfair conduct or
any Kind Of m.srcrr .utRHod 10 De-
shameful when either party abuses
ma..ens and datlmr7 or. other Tine
common rw.fI.. uf r.Tar.ns -H.
views ana aims of political opponents
is a-. OF fha most potent causes OF fha
Withdrawal nam active politics of eo
many euu.D.a o.Hr.rr 10 Be de-
pwbI. wI seems o ha luOuan.a.
lf.r,ui b. dropped arI condemn hy
Oh. r.sr..rahI. among alI tle parties
O.. tho country mI l...r.y ia secured
ana res.ga, FOR truth aud honor ls es-
tcuIshsl
i, is not ueht to regard with ul-
favor or d'slain. ,ha legitimate efforts
OF asp.unts TO public Office Go obtain
they ought 90 pursue So relation 70
81 Is seldom that an Office seeks the