Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1906-09-25
FOR GOOD CITIZENS

AT this time OF political ACTIVITY IL
NAV be well TO remember that there j.
a great difference between the legiti-
mate contest for victory on election
DAY, and the illegitimate strife ana
contention that sometimes are carried
on TO the great detriment Of the COM
munltles thus afflicted. Citizens ma
turally form different opinions on
questions OF government aud one side
has just as much right TO attempt to
obtain control as the other In fact, II
the conviction that certain principles
are true. is honest. Il becomes the pa
triotic duty of those who hold them
10 labor for their acceptance. And
when two, or more, groups Of citi-
zens are deeply impressed with the
truth Of their respective opinions ON
matters pertaining TO public az
fairs, and therefore engage in q COM
petition for control. whereby their
principles can be carried out for the
benefit Of the people. legitimate
party contest is on. II is conducive Of
good, as long as II is a struggle for
principles and the outcome Of de-
sire to benefit the people.
Unfortunately, all political contests
are not Of that nature. They some
times are mere fights for personal adj
yantages. There Is no more patriotism
in them than there Is In the scram-
BILE Of dogs for a handful OF bones.
Principles are set aside for the ques-
tion OF the money value Of the coveted
offices When campaigns are lowered
TO the standard Of brutes In the act
Of appeasing their hunger, they are
no longer legitimate, They are not
essentially different from the South
American contests in which murder
plays an important role. They have
no room under the American Consti-
tuition. Those who engage In them
as leaders are. politically considered,
no better than highwaymen, and every
citizen who advances the cause Of
such selfish characters. is doing IT.
reparable harm TO the country.
Usually this class Of contests Is
conducted by means OF false pretenses
and misrepresentation A person
wants an office. He wants Il very
much; not because his occupancy Of
the desired position would be Of any
particular benefit 10 the people. but 10
himself II he had any solleitude for
the welfare Of the public he would
wait Tor the expression Of public sem
iiment as TO the occupancy Of this Of
flee or that But he needs the posi-.
ton. Wha, is he to do? II he is Of
low. despioable character. he com.
menccs a campaign Of falsehoods. He
asssils those who already occupy the
office In order 10 create prejudiccs
against hem and their party. He pre-.
tends virtues he never had. and which
he despises, In order TO make a favor.
able impression for himself, II he
has money. he buys friends TO promul.
gate lies for him. and to work for
him. and he spends his money with
the understanding that he will reim-
burse himself out OF the public funds,
when he obtains the place for which
he yearns. How can the public be
served by characters Of that kind In
public positions? Can pretenders and
ialsehood.vendors be trusted in i'm.
portant oftices2 Is It probable that
one who has reached his goal by char
laianry will turn out an honest. ca
paole, and IN every respect desirable
servant Of the public? Is II not more
probable that the character revealed
during the campaign Is the true one,
and that he who obtains an office un-
der false preienses. will continue TO
prove false TO his trust. These ques.
lions are ot special importance In this
community, when offiee.seokers come
before the citizens and ask for sup.
port on the false preiense that Il Is
necessary 90 combine against evils.
that do not exist 20 correct wrongs
that arc no mole real than The ghosts
in nursery tales Good citizens
should be wide awake. In The Interest
OF the community lest they com.
NIT 4 mistake Tor which they must
pay later on.
The October Century has an cdlior.