The Salt Lake tribune. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1890-current, 1906-11-28
FREEDOM OF SPEECH.

The growing freedom which char.
acterizes the utterance Of politician or
| public man is one of the best assur-
ances of higher ideals and practice in
public life. The day when political
conventionality demanded and re.
ceived from eminent partisans an ap-
! plause or a protection for party action
and party leadership is passing from
community life, and in it's place is
apparent devotion to tho public veal
which refuses to condone in ones own
| party or its control that which would
be criticised in the opposition. One
Of the most notable proofs Of this
| progress appears in the address Of
Hon. Joseph H. Choate, leader Of the
New York bar and late ambassador Of
the United States to England, who
spoke in Carnegie hall at the Schurz
memorial services.
Mr.. Choate is n Republican, the re-
cipient of high honors at the hands
of that party and destined for fur.
ther recognition if he shall choose to
accept. He introduced Grover Cleve-
land as the foremost citizen of the Re.
public; and this, despite the fact that
Theodore Roosevelt, President of the
United States is citizen. New York
er and n Republican. However much
one may disagree with Mr.. Choate s
personal opinion. one cannot but COM
mend the spirit Of fairness which
prompted the remark and the new spirit
of freedom which permitted the re-
mark
After reading this tribute to the
man once derided by Republicans, it
is not surprising to find an indirect
allusion to the New York Senators
which is rs uncomplimentary to them
as the reference to Mr. Cleveland must
have been gratifying to that retired
President. Speaking of the character
OF Carl Schurz, who was once a Sena-
tor OF the United States from Mis-,
souri,. Mr.. Ghoate said: ''Oh. for such
Senator now - The vast and cul-
tured audience applauded this remark,
indicating thereby their regard for the
memory of Carl Schurz and their APP
probation Of Mr.. Choate's appeal to
their criticism Of the men who now rep
resent the Empire State in the high
est parliamentary body in the world.
One may disagree with Mr.. Choate s
indirectly expressed estimate Of Chaun-
cey Depew and Thomas c. Plat; but
every thinking citizen. ambitious 10 see
the realization of community ideals,
must take pride in the fact that Re
publican orator dares TO express an
omplimentary opinion of Republi-
can Senators if he believes that they
are not exalting the party in their SER
vice to the Nation.
Mr. Choate S attitude is evidently
that of the most enlightened partisan
ship. The best service one can render
TO party is TO purify party. The best
security for party perpetuity is that
party shall serve the Nation with idel-
ity Better than the mere zealot who
serves party-right or wrong. is the
man who insists that party shall be
right in order TO gain his service. Bet
ter than the man who will applaud
party leaders without regard to merit
is the man who insists that leadership
shall deserve before il shall have his
devotion.
These are great days for Americans.
With President Roosevelt breaking
down the rigidity of Democratic lines
and with reform breaking down the
radical partisanship of Republican lines,
the citizenship of the Republic is Sc
cure in the knowledge that devotion
to public veal is becoming the test
of personal worth in politics and is to
be the assured test of party supremacy
in the land.