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

Al this time OF ponucal a'nNNs
NAV be well to remember that there u
a great difference between the legiu-
rrate contest for victory on election
DAY. and the nlegitimate strife ana
contention that sometimes are carried
on 10 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 10 attempt 10
obtain control as the other In TACT 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. Ana
when two, or more. groups Of elti'
gems are deeply impressed with the
truth Of their respective opinions on
matters pertaining TO public at
fairs and therefore engage in q COM
petition for control. whereby their
PRINCIPLES can be carried out for the
beneft Of the people, a legitimate
party contest Is on. II If conducive Of
rood 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 seram-
BILE OF dogs for a handful OF bones
Principles are set aside for the ques-
ton OF the money value Of the coveted
offices When campaigns are lowered
20 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 IL
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 II 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 solicitude for
tho welfare Of the public he would
wait Tor the expression o. public SEN
timent as 10 the occupancy Of this Of
fee or that But he needs the posi-
ton. Wha, is he to do? II he is Of
a low. despicable character, he COM
mencos a campaign Of falsehoods. He
asssils those who already occupy the
office In order TO create prejudice'
against hem and their party. lie pre-.
tends virtues he never had. and which
he dcspises, 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 foI
him. and he spends his money viii
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 b
served by characters OF that kind u
public positions? Can pretenders ant
ialsehOod-vendors be trusted in i'm
portant offices? Is II probable tina
one who has reached his goal by char
laianry will turn out an honest, ca
paple. and IN every respect desirabl
servant Of the public? Is II not NOR
probable that the character revealed
during the campaign Is the true ons
and that he who obtains an office un
der false pretenses. will continue 4
prove false TO his trust, These CUES
lions are % special importance In thi
community. when offioe.seekers com
before the citizens and ask for sup
port on the false prtiense that Il :
necessary 20 combine against evil.
that do not exist. 20 correct wrong
that arc 10 moie reel than The ghost
in nursery tales Good citizen
should be wide awake. IN The in,eres
OF the community, lest they com
NIT 4 mistake Tor which they mus
pay later on.
The october Ceniup has an cdi,orl