Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1904-08-11
USE YOUR OWN THINKER.

Circulating false rumors seems TO be
part of the business of party workers on
either side, They manage TO get
story Inserted in some prominent news
papers, and these arc copied extensively
creating the impression desired by the
manipulatorB. Some times they enlbody
a grain OF truth which Is surrounded
with a mass of conjecture, and 80 the
whole mass passes current AZ others
they are whole-oloth fabrications de-
signed 10 deceive. The trouble is, that
when they are denied many people who
saw or heard the story fail TO learn
Of It's RECITATION, and often even those
who Know OF both, are inclined to be-
lievc the first statement and discredlt
the last.
II Is useless to appeal to the inten-
tlonal prevarcator and concocter Of po-
litlcal gossip to refrain from misrepre-
sentation and defamation. That kind Of
pabulum II is part OF his business 70
furnish for a gaping public. But 1t viii
not be altogether in vain, we hope, TO
suggest that IN times OF political strife,
the general reader win use some judy
ment and discernment IN reference to
stories set afloat through the press. and
wait developments before relying Inn
pllcitly on that which comes even by
wire rs political news
The idea that the sophlstry and ex-
hggeratlon and denunoiatoh which are
common IN these campaigns are essen
tial features of politics, is altogether
falIaclous. Politics means the science
bf government. Much of the stuff full
minated under that name from the
platform and the press is only party
efluvlum, gas without light glitter
that Is not gold, rhetoric with
but reason, oratorlca flights upon
the thinnest kind OF hot air,
Principles ought to be expounded In
political address. The qualifications
Of candidates are proper subjects for
party speeches. but these should be
proclaimed fairly and without yilliflca-
ton OF opposing nominees.
Already there are signs IN this state
Of party tricks and unjust and defama-
tory rumors, designed 10 put prominent
men In false light and damage their
reuse by attributing TO them acts they
do not perform and designs they do
not entertain. No good cause needs
such unfair methods no real heneft
aCcrues from them; only evil is the con-
sequence and shame to those who re-
sort to them. Why cannot the advo-
Gates Of any party or candidate rest
upon the merits OF their cause, and
leave the opposition to It's own devices?
Surely there IS enough on either side Of
political controversy TO engage the
best thought and efforts Of lts expound-
ers, and TO attract the attention of the
thoughtful and win the support Of
genuine converts,
OF course a political campaign is In
bne sense battle, and 1t Is to he ex-
pected that the combatants viii be
earnest and energetic in the conflict.
wv hhRA hP'N AA'h illi1 bi' hNi'halAA
for deception, fasehood claptrap de-
famatlon or anything dishonorable.
The measures considered justifiablo IN
the field Of war when bloodehed and
destruction are intended and expected
need not enter into a political contest
and are entirely out OF place therein
The comparison between them does not
run parallel and arguments for ono en-
tirely fall as to the other a political
contest Is a struggle between friends
and fellow-citizens for principle and
preference, on enlightened and civilized
lines each party having In view the
benefit Of country and the triumph cf
truth as viewed from different stand
points Let not the Utah campaign
of 1904 be conducted on any other
grounds than these, but let each glad
iator stand for what he honestly be-
lieves TO be right and for the common
welfare, and let the public use Judgment
In deciding for themselves on every
QUESTION.