The Intermountain Catholic. (Salt Lake City [Utah] ;) 1899-1920, 1908-07-25
PESSIMISTIC POLITICS.

There seems to be streak of pessmism running
through the appeals of the politicians these days
They would have US believe there is something
wrong in this country, just what no knows
but something at once mysterious and not under
standable. Nor do the politicians of one party
more keenly seer the impending disaster than
those of the o, .r TO avert the calamity, it is
imperative that b, lie should elect the candi-
dates of the parry whose principles they spouse;
defeat portends al sorts of adversely, misery and
distress This peesinistic condition Is not alto
gether new; indeed. it is the staple subject for
campaign speakers and writers. and has been since
we can remember. and probably since national cam
paigns were instituted.
Despite the politicians when the subject of ma
terial conditions in America is considered the CON
cusion is inevitable that this country IS the most
favored of any on the globe No other nation is
so attractive to capital and labor alike; no other
country offers SO many and varied opportunities
to men of steady habits and strong wills to work.
The possibilities of making good living here
well known in European and Asiatic countries
that we have been compelled to restrict immigra-
ton, which is probably very selfish on our part,
but the influx in spite of the restrictive laws shows
ditions here than in the countries from which the
emigrants come just now too, the crop experts
telling of enormous yields of farm products,
and the production Of the mines is gradually in
creasing from the slump of last winter
What. then. is the cause for the pessimistic out
look of the politicians! Is there cause for it be-
yond the mere desire to corral votes2 Is the most
favored country in the world really on the verge
of starvation And if economic conditions here
in the garden spot Of the earth are to be affected
disastrously by the outcome of presidential
election, in what unenviable condition must the
people Of other nations find themselves, dependent
they are largely upon America for their supplies
Of foodstuffs and clothing
Personally. and we do not pretend to speak for
any other member of the Catholic church. let alone
pretending to voice the opinion of the church if it
has an opinion in matters political we do not be-
ieve the success of either of the great parties this
fall will mar or make prosperity for the people
As the years have gone by, invention and develop
ment have complicated our mode of life. In the
old days homespun, and kept warm in the
winter time by splitting wood for the cook stove.
Nowadays we have the whole house heated and we
need tailor suits and boiled shirts 10 make us I'M
comfortable. Take the matter of white Numbered
collars alone. and ii must cost the men of Amer
lea at least half million dollars week. There
are many things like white collars that we don't
really need and would be more comfortable with
out things like shoe polish, and gold ewelry. and
necktes and frivolous amusements like summer
vacations. and automobile trips, and soda water.
We do not advocate the abolition of these things.
We only mention them show how really luxuri-
ousy live in America. as compared with the
people of the last generation 1t is needless to go
further into details. All these things take money.
and lots Of it. We must have them because our
neighbors have them. So most of US are kept busy
supplying ourselves with things which we could
do without. and get hard pressed at times We
call it hard times, and the party in power is held
accountable to the people for their misfortunes.
All this artficialty keeps pretty busy to sup
ply ourselves with what think we need We have