Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1906-10-24
SHOULD BE LEFT ALONE.

in countries with popular Govern
ment the citizens naturally divide In
10 political groups, or parties, As they
differ IN their Views. owing 10 the diff
ference In their gifts OF perception. de-
Brees OF knowledge. or previous train
Ing, they form associations IN accord
anco with their opinions on questions OF
public Interest. Parties arise under all
forms OF government. Where there is
despotlsm, however, the great multi
tudes OF citizens are not supposed to
take part Ia the party contests. They
are supposed to be merely silent spec
tators OF the conflicts that arc being
wuged among the favored few who
claim to have personal interest In
matters pertaining 20 the government
Hut where popular government prevails
parties also become popular.
Such formation Of different parties Is
not only natural. but necessary to pre-
serve the balance OF power, As long as
partisanshlp IL confined to It's legitimate
sphere, IL IL also beneficial II causes
discussion OF issues and dissemination
nf knowledge on current questions
Through the operation Of party
politics, the citizens viii gain
an experience that can he OBJ
talned IN no other way. BY tho vary
ing fortunes OF parties, by which now
one party and now another Il elevated
10 power and responsibility for the adj
ministratlon OF public affairs different
principles of government are put to a
practical test. This enables the citi-
sens to Judge for themselves aud choose
the course they should take In the fu-
tire. Their experience viii warn them
against supporting the principles which
have proved disastrous. and help them
70 choose those that have been tested
and found good, because promoting
peace and prosperity. and securing Tor
tie country influence IN the council Of
nations.
When, however, so-oaled politicians
descend below the level OF civilized be-
inss and make war upon their fellow
citizens, a war utterly void ot reason
and with no more principle for its mo.
ike than an encounter nj the wilderness
between hungry wolves over q mofsel Of
food. they are outside the sphere Of le-
Ultimate politics. When they resort TO
SANDER aud abuse and the creation Of
sensations TO gain a point, they are no
longer entitled to the consideration due
mn honest partisan. They violate the
principles Of popular government, as
well as the rules governing gentlemany
conduct. They, moreover, confess the
weakness OF their cause, for he who
has true principle to announce,
truth to defend. does not need 10 resort
10 dlshonorable tactics. Falsehoods
may need such supports truth, never.
Patriotic citizens everywhere should
unite In strong demand for respect-
able tactics IN political campaigns, no
matter what the issues are
Even In actual war, where the
appeal IL made 10 brute force. there
are certain rules of conduct no civilized
nation would care TO break. This should
be the case when citizens perform their
duties as citizens and select officers TO
represent them IN the administration Of
;he government The work OF certain
politicians Is certainly injurious TO the
interests Of the State. II is not ap-
proved by anyone, except those who
hope to profit By strife and contention.
IL every citizen were concerned about
The welfare OF the community, there
would be no occasion for bitter contests.
With tho element of selHshness ellmin-
ated. It would be much easier to pre-
serve unity and harmony. We believe
II is the duty OF every respectable cIu-
zen TO leave the breeders OF strife SCI
tcrely alone lie who Identifies him.
SELF with their cause, simply assists In
working grave and almost irreparable
injury 10 the community In which he
lives. and IN which his material Inter-
eeIa ttsnter