The Salt Lake tribune. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1890-current, 1906-10-15
USE AND ABUSE OF
A POLITICAL PARTY
This the Subject of Address by
Rev. DR.. Paden at the
Y. NJ. G. A.

Beginning the series of lectures on
good citizenship, arranged by the local
Y NJ. C. A.. the Rev. DR.. VIM. NJ.
Paden, of the First Presbyterian church,
spoke ably on "The Use and Abuse Of
Political Party" at the association
auditorium Sunday afternoon. He
chose as his text the portion of Acts
10 which relates the attack on Paul
at Ephesns. The statement, 'ssome
therefore cried one thing and some an
other he said described the general
cal parties, and the attack on Paul
and his followers is an excellent illus
tration of bad party feeling, but does
not apply TO all cases. He said III
part
"Political parties are necessary in
government by the people, and we
cannot have free government without
elections. Washington and Lincoln
were capable of strong party feeling.
The primary election is an essential
part of our form of government, as the
people should have right to associate
for the purpose of nominating tho
candidate of their choice and declaring
the principles on which they wish to
make n stand.
Campaign Revivals.
Presidential campaigns are, at their
best, great National reviyals, and cleo
tions have their worth in quickening
the sense of the citizen to his respon-
sibility. But party spirit may be mis-
used or abused 1t should promote poll
tical principle rather than the desire
to get into office. and, at their worst,
the political campaigns are bat con-
tests between the inns and 'outs.'
1.-The political parties of today too
pft nf hn
best preventives of bribery is to give
the voter a real issue-one in which he
is interested. The spirit of compromise
is too common among modern political
parties. No real issue can be COM
promised, and the great political party
of the future will be fearless and
possess the power of initiative. Time
Will prove that we cannot evict the
decalogue from our platforms by re-
fusing 70 talk about it.
''Another weakness among political
parties is their disposition to put men
on their tickets who have as little
principle as is shown in their plat
forms. Weak men are often nominated
merely because they cannot well be
attacked, while, on the other hand,
good men are sometimes put on the
ticket of weak parties, We must havo
good men and good measures.
Independent Voters.
In speaking about the independent
voter, he said: .'The American free
man has the inalienable right to quit,
bolt, reorganize, or to scratch the
ticket. These independent men have
mind and will of their own and
are the most vital factors the parties
of the future viii have TO deal with.
All honor to the man who will risk
half his reputation in order that he
may be permitted TO think, and then
risk the other half that he may speak. -
Gov. Cutler presided during the
meeting, and read an Introductory adj
dress in which he emphasized the ne
cessity of becoming familiar with our
form of government and public life,
and Endorsed the action of the Y. NJ
c. A. in arranging for this course of
lectures.
Next Sunday afternoon, beginning at
5 clock, the Rev. Elmer J. Goshen
will lecture on "The Measure Of n
Public Ofiicer,' and at the same hour
on the Sunday following Senator
Sutherland will deliver an address on
"The Measure of a Citizen"