Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1910-09-16
POLITICS is GOOD MEDICINE.

II the great American republic had
followed the advice Of critical welt
wishers from abroad, Il would have
long ago tried to deny itself the luxury
sf SO many general elections. II It had
bad enough respect for the predic-
lions OF these solicitous friends to de-
sire to bring about their fulhlment II
would long since have gone 20 smash.
For IL has been a favorite pursuit with
foreign observers 10 drone upon the
dangers Of these biennial and quadren-
NAL eruptions. and 10 point out the
perils OF so tremendous strain. Oft
/ repeated. on our national strength. Yet
the republic survives In health and Wig
or unlmpaired, and its ever-recurring
political campaigns are waged with no
percep:ible abatement OF intense and
all absorbing Interest. Indeed, the
contests become keener year by year.
and II is "a long step. and an illuminate
ing one. from the prosaic irregular
sklrmlshes of a century ago TO the
titanic narshailing OF the hosts and
the spectacular clash OF the battahons
OF the present day.
The spirit and genius OF American in
sttutions demands and rests upon this
very feature OF frequent elections. The
fathers determined that those whom
the popular verdict placed in positions
OF trust should not get too far away
from or above their masters. the PEG
pie. The idea was fundamental that
they should be often and easily called
upon for an account OF their steward
ship. Every preeaution was TO be. tax
en- that they did not manage to en-
/ trench themselves IN power. Period
ically they were TO come before the
Performances and their proposed plans
for the future. II these were accept
able, the people were to say so--yes
or no. Nothing was TO be taken for
granted. Evils and abuses could not
&c on unchecked. UNIT public SER
wants could not be perpetuated in office.
As theory OF government. the sys-
tenn was. ideal II in practice it should
come short OF its theoretical perfection,
the peopla would be TO blame-it was
not the fault Of the system.
In fair and frequent elections. there
fore. lies the safety, not the peril. OF
the nation. II is true. n political cam
palgn OF any magnitude is an expen-
sive affair. costing a large amount OF
money. hut II the money is expended
the severest critic win not |
deny that IL might easily be put 10 an |
use. There Is benefit in |
awakening the peoples interest, even |
by means OF professions and brass
band. There Is profit and safety in put
ling the peoples thinking machinery
n motion through the efforts OF cam
,aign orators and pamphleteers. These
nd hundreds OF other items are legit-
mate expenses Of a campaign, and the
money is not wholly ill-spent that pays
hem
serious disturber Of business, says
mother objector, is a political cam
laign OF any kind, special or general.
oeal or national. To a certain extent,
his is also true. But a. disturbance Is
lot always injurious Every reform
'reates a disturbance, There are GER
ain disturbances that ought 20 he
,reated, even II some business suf-
ers. one may venture to go a step
'arther and say there are certain
businesses that ought 10 suffer: n they
hrive during "off" years and are only
disturbed during election years. they
ire getting share at which they
lught not TO complain. II Is the stag
lant water that become foul and
disease breeding. The political pool
nay be sometimes muddy. but in
being stirred up 10 the air and light
and sunshine. it is receiving, the best
md surest treatment-nature's own
medicine.
Unquestionably there are attendant
to the existing methods
But they are not difficult OF removal
n correction whenever they become
II sufficient magnitude to cause alarm.
rhe mass of the American people are
itill sound at the core. They cai.not
be fooled all the time. Indeed. It is be-
coming more and more difficult to
'ool them at all Aspiring leaders soon
IRE swept aside unless they possess the
qualities of real leadership. There is
|
nediocrity now than ever before with
all that is said OF yenality or corrup-
ion, It is not easy today TO barter or
lebauch constituency II any such at
tempt Is made. the whole country at
'nce becomes aware OF IT. A crime SO
notorious Is published TO the ends OF
he land, and discussed in its humblest
homes, Because, we hear easier and
better nowadays all that the rest OF
he world is doing. some Of us are
prone 10 think the. world is getting
worse and that disaster must needs
urk hear at hand threatening fate
'uch as aforetime overlook the cities
u the plain. Not so. AS II b. the most
important. so It is the greatest and the
pest ~ az the .centuries---ihis or IN