OCR Text |
Show CAPTAIN HOOPER" TO THE FitOBT. The Hou. Wm, H. Hooper in his speech at the people's county convention con-vention on Saturday, expressed some aenti merits, the truth of which will be generally acknowledged. He said that, though educated and bred a democrat, and still adhering to the views of that old and patriotic party,' as expounded by Jeflerson and Jackson, Jack-son, he was net so blind or prejudiced i that be could not recognize whatever was correct in principle in the repub-1 lican party, and he knew very many members of that party who were good enough democrats for him. While ho urged that the people of Utah should pay greater attention than they have done to national politics, ' in order to fit themselves to discharge the duties which may devolve upon them in the no-distant future, and which knowledge and practice are essential for their intelligent action at the present time, he said there seemed, perhaps, to be no immediate occasion for the introduction of parties. par-ties. The people should study na-i tional afLura and make themselves' familiar with the history of the formation of the federal government, cf which no idea could be formed by familiarity v."ith any European system. The American government is a unique one, where the power originates, not from the mon arch flowing downward, but fro:n the people proceeding upward, through the primary and town meetinz-where, meetinz-where, according to our theory, every citizen is represented, then through . different assemblage where party candidates are selected, to the ballot box, where must be tested every man who aspires to represent the people, from the lowest offices in their gift to that of president of the United States. Captain Hooper urgfd car-fiil attention atten-tion by the people of Utah to the primary assemblages, without which proper men could not bo selected to represent them in various cuiacilics at home and in the territorial and national na-tional legislatures. Each citizen should feei that his political responsibility was as binding as any other, and that ho could not divest himself of it, or transfer his duties to hid neighbor. In no other way own a representative government be maintained than through the vigil-ance vigil-ance of the hod y of iu citizenahio. When sober, judicious people neglect the primary meetings and fail to attend the polls they not only show their indifference to public concerns, but they divert from the- affairs of government a moral influence and character, without which no government govern-ment can represent the best impulses ' and tho highest intelligence of its 1 citizenship. c Captain Hooper referred feelingly 1 to his residence in Utah and to Ids ( long and familiar acquaintance, willi ' many of the delegates to the conven- : lion. It waa rilit, lie said, that tho ' pioneers of thid country, who came ' here to escape persecution in other ' parts of the country, and had built up ' this territory and made it a community commu-nity of pleasant homes and a durable dur-able place of residence, should con- trol its government and destinies. lk For a long time they were almost ' alone here, and wero united in seo- " tirnent ar.d notion, JJut with the- Opening of tho continental railroad ,,, and tho mining int'Tf-its peop'e of o Other beliefs and id' s Imd gathered bore, bringing biininesp energy, experience nnd capital to aid in tin; development o( our commun interrMp. Many of thorn may not agree with m in regard to the political coune to be pursued in local wfliirn, but while our laws are made, as they hIwuvh houid bo, in Iho liberal Bpirit of American institution, without dis-crirnaliOD dis-crirnaliOD between Mormon, dew or Gentile, no fault could be. found with tho majority of tho conimunily for oxercising tho privily nnd rijihh to which they nre rr.till'd Mi.dr-r American iufctilutrorH and nv,-, fn no letter mrxlo tlrnn at tho .i.,t x , could tbopi,,,o of L'lahexpr'th-ir . TiewRU,U1Ofprri,,nl..l.iv-ofthoi,ii- i t.OU. JIok,1(;wl,yrzl,ri(1(;(jtlllit n.n.ava,t(hnV-r,,)(;oir1 tho stand- 1 jngand inlluei.ro of nv,N ft C((I)lmi. ' ional (kle;:a'.-, whM,r ho n nml t therewith a majority of 10,000, 15,000 1 or 30,000 votes. Popular majorities are among the most potent influences in American politics, and carry a great weight. In his experience as a delegato for twelve years, Captain Hopcr said he had found that n majority of senators and representatives representa-tives were not inimical to the people ot Utah, but were generally ready to listen to facts and to take a reasonable rea-sonable view of the situation here. Ha thought on the whole, considering the prejudices of various kinds brou g h t to bear u po n co n -grcss, that Utah had, as a whole, been pretty fairly dealt with". Some unjust laws bad been made, and many odicials had been sent here whose action had given fair grounds ot complaint; but some just, well-disposed well-disposed men have been appointed to federal positions here. Captain Hooper also referred to the anomalous character of the territorial form of government. Tho Iramers of iho constitution never intended to set up such governments, for they contradicted con-tradicted the very principles and practices which they fought to free themselves from; yet if tho people of the territories could have the choice of their own officers, as the i states have, the territorial form of I government would ba well adapted to the condition of all sparsely settled Isuilieient population or wealth to uuahlo them to carry ou state governments." gov-ernments." He also touched upon various questions of national politics, paid a tribute to .Hon. Ciaorgc Q. Cannon as an intelligent, industrious and faithful delegate, and closed by -enewing his appeal to the delegates :o see that rnoro attention is paid by the people of their several commun i ties to their political duties. At the close ol his speech Captain Hooper was warmly applauded. |