Idaho County free press. [volume] (Grangeville, Idaho Territory) 1886-current, 1908-06-04
DUBOIS AND THE PRESS

DUBOIS AND THE PRESS
Men who would get shipwrecked
in the poetry Of Shakespeare and
lost in the political economy OF
John Stuart Mill. are in some 10.
calities Of the state posing as
critics, attempting to prescribe a
remedy for what they term the
i'll Of democracy, woefully inter-.
preting the views and attributing
insincerity to ex-senator Dubois,
whose life for almost thirty years
has been spent in upbuilding his
beloved state.
The national position Fred +.
Dubois has held with esteem; the
ideas he embodies; the qualities OF
his character, together with his
past political Judgment entitle him
to present leadership in the state.
Dismiss the man as leader, divorce
him from democracy, the prin-
ciples Of the party and the cause he
has espoused will still live.
Criticism OF the press when fair
and deserving sometimes has q
most wholesome effect, but abuse
never. No writer in the state
should summon all his aesthetic
taste and employ his talent to
depict favorably, vices which man
kind condemns. II the senator in
habits higher sphere of thought,
into which others rise with more
study and difficulty, he is entitled
at least to fair answer and argu-
ment, rather than a waiver or
epithets. Abuse is not argument
and does not belong to the public
writer nor to the orator. Nearly
every great character in history
has been termed q william, q mon
ster, a dictator, and likewise his
ideas called "jingoism" or a
"bugaboe", and too frequently his
character by calumny deform ed :.
Recall Lincoln, Jefferson, Blaine,
and Bryan. Falsehood, SANDER
and epithets never won in the end
before the American people. 1t
may delay but not defeat the cause.
Senator Dubois has to some extent
we believe been hated because he
cannot be answered.
The press should not attempt to
shackle Dubois, because his only
aim as far as we have been able to
learn, is to make possible better
politics. Should we pander to
lower ideals? Shall we drop the
high standard Of moral growth we
have earnestly contended for in the
past and join with dissenters? Is our
craftsmanship and our ideal no
higher? The press we feel shout d
analyze with absolute fairness all
questions and give to each its true
worth.
Without question, the indepen.
dent thought in Idaho today In all
political parties who love principle
more than Office or its spoils, is
striving earnestly to preserve our
prestige as a sovereign people and
keep our institutions and our pos
terity free from Mormon control.
Without doubt, the polygamous
leaders to great extent domina ate
today the policy Of the party now
in power in Idaho. Dubois with
Others seeks only to have the
people as whole obey the funda-
mental law of the state. This ia
We cannot, if we
abhor vice, turn our face to God
and cry stop. Civilization hangs
largely upon the home. Obedience
to the moral teaching learned in
youth, is the only safeguard in
hours OF doubt. Deny not that
for it's silent vibration
must be obeyed if peace and hap
piness is the ultimate aim of
government. What we need is
not SO much rival of democracy,
but firm wholesome outspoken
sentiment against polygamy, with
courage to stand fire until the
people of the state compel the
party in power to obey the consti.
sutton and force the Mormon
leaders, some Of whom are non
residents, to cease bartering the
Mormon vote against the wishes of
The Mormons themselves, for
political favors. By removing the
influence of the leadars in decis-
i've vote against polygamy and un-
lawful cohabitation we therebv