Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1901-08-01
THE DUTY OF CITIZENS.

Addressing the Illinois Bar associa
ton ut is recent meeting. Lieutenant
Governor Norlheott Of that state. said.
81 want to say 70 you. my brothers,
that unless We so to the rescue OF the
government the political future Is very
dark. Don't be satisfied with going TO
the polls and voting 70 ratify the choice
OF either one Of the two party bosses.
The citizens Of this country must inter-
est themselves In politics. lie who
strives for the elevation and puriilca-
ton OF the government is as much a
patriot as he who shoulders a musket
Ia the defense of the nation
This statement though somewhat
pessimistic. contains much good advice
Undoubtedly. there Is too little genuine
interest taken in politics by the great
masses Of the people. There is plenty
Of interest during campaigns or per-
haps Il would be better to say there is
plenty OF excitement at such times but
what Is needed Is continual and in
teligent interest In political matters.
those matters that interest and con-
Germ the people In their legal relations
to each other. II Is true that practically
all the people belong 10 some one or
other OF the various political parties,
and II is equally true that while they
belong they have small influence in
shaping the policies OF their parties,
not becaush they could not have 1t, but
simply because they do not take the
trouble 10 have II. Every citizen can
have an influence In his party II he
really desires to4and can make II felt.
A primary well attended by substan-
tIal citizens whose chief desire is for
good government usually selects gooo
and reliable citizens 10 send to the con-
ventlons. 1t Is trite to say that the
primary is the source Of all our politics,
but because 1t is trite is no reason for
disregarding It.
A campaign In which either party did
not charge the other with more or less
wickedness and corruption, with EVIL
designs upon the public purse. woulG be
very rare. yet the truth is that the
great majority OF nominees Of all par
ties are average good men. A trouble
Is that too seldom are they strong men
who viii defy party bosses in doubtful
cases. An evll OF our politics is that
party government makes II hard to
place strong men in the field. The REM
edy for weak OF bad nominations is in
dependence on the part Of the voters
but party ties are so strong that very
few are able to break them; they are
generally so strong that partisans will
support their ticket though they know
and are.free TO say that II is not worthy
OF public support.
Independent movements In politics
are rarely successful for they lack
thorough organization. and without II
there Is small hope of success. Then II
o1ten happens mat an independent
movement is largely composed OF the
disappointed and disgruntied of old
parties.
Human government cannot be made
perfect but It could be greatly inn
proved In our own country II every yo-
ter would bestir himself to see that
good men and women land by this is
meant those who are OF good character.
good ability and iltness) are selected
for office. aud that when elected they
Justify the trust and confidence that
have been reposed in them.
Lieutenant Governor Northcott Is
right when he says that he who strives
for the elevation and publication OF the
government is as much a patriot as he
who shoulders a musket in defense OF
tho pnfion