Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1904-09-27
CONDUCT OF THE CAMPAIGN.

In the strife Of the contest Of parties
and candidates Tor public shice great
deal OF freedom Is exercised and tacitly
permitted In the discussion not only Of
principles and policies but Of the per-
sonal character and record Of the NONE
lnees. That liberty often runs beyond
proper bounds and becomes offensive.
both to the individuals assailed and
their friends and supporters When
falsehood Is added 10 those attacks, the
sensible part Of the public resent them
and the Winters do damage to their
own cause. This Is also the effect Of
lnwarrantsd ridicule and caricature
II was hoped that nothing Of that ma
ture would dlshgure the campaign in
Utah this year Hut we notice that oc-
caslonaly some OF the prominent cam
paign orators Indulge In the common
practice Of barlesquelns and beratlng
their opponents and appear to be un-
able to resi- content with eulogizlng
their own candidates. but must perforce
resort 70 the slanderous methods OF the
common campagner, This 10 much to
be deplored, and II Is to be hoped that
the persons SO lampooned will not be-
come enraged In consequence, aud that
they win not attempt any reiolnder or
encourage their friends to enter into a
personal defense or controversy.
II should be understood that the bad
image INDUCED In by practlsed party
stump-speakers is often not intended
seriously and should not be taken lit
orally, 1t Is used TO provoke mirth,
and when II Is at the expense Of some-
body else II will generally be received
with laughter and applause, But Il
viii not do much harm TO the Victim in
the way OF support at the polls No
rational citizen should be influenced
by It when he casts ballot unless It
be to emphasize his repugnance TO that
kind OF Influence" Misrepresentation.
abuse or derislon Of a candidate should
not AFFECT the votes OF members Of his
party or OF persons who are not par
tisans.
The effervcscense OF platform ora
tory should be counted as nothing more
than the fizz or froth Of an exhilrating
drink, that goes of into thin air When
# is tainted with the flavor OF untruth
and the bitterness Of pncor It bears a
nalodorous scent and should be treat
ed with dlsdain. And the silence or
plain resentment with which Il is re-
cclyed by a sensible audience, win have
The effect OF chilling the ardor of the
wordy agitator and Of warning him to
desist from that kind OF argument"
Such msayory etnuyia ought not to
gain applause from a discriminating
audience
We think that there are issues Of
principle and reasons enough on either
side. to be fairly and vigorously dis
cussed without dragging I'm personals
ties that are unjust and unpleasant. We
do not believe That the gentlemen nom
mated for prominent places to be filled
10 November win themselves, engage
in the paltry work Of malignug their
rivals for public favor It is their
ardent advocates who arr likely to fan
into the ndefenslbe course OF the
party spouter and thus render the con-
test disreputable and vicious.
We repeat the hope We expressed be-
fore The opening Of the active campaign,
that the frequent tactics and tricks OF
the average party stumper win be
avoided this year and that IN an the
debates thqt are had and the speeches
that are made on either side, good
sense, the exposition Of political doc.
tfine the fitness Of candidates and the
needs Of the public viii be set before
the citizens OF this State. Ia the place