The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1882-10-20

false return.
"Again, l say, these commissioners
are, or were when appointed, men of
excellent reputation. Their superiors
for integrity and abili y could hardly
have been found in the Union. To me
it seemed mere matter of course that
they would perform with perfe ct tideli-
ty the simple duty assigned them of
holding the elections according to law.
| could not anticip te that they would
unite with the enemies of the people to
deprive them of their legal franchises.
Iwould as soon have suspected them of
joining James and his gang to rob the
express trains"
'Do you mean to say that Others
have evil designs upon the people of
Utah which this conduct of the com
mission will promote
A REBELLION IN UTAH.
| Judge Black: "Yes There is a life
and death struggle going on between
the people who are trying to save their
right Of local self-government and a
crew of goddess wretches who are
straining every nerve to take it from
them. Let me explain the settlers
who went there in 1S47 became organ
lied under territorial government
which gave them all the privileges of
a free community, with legislature of
their own to make their local laws,
aud with officers of their own choice to
manage their local affairs. They ex-
ercised this power with so much pru-
dence that the community grew and
prospered exceedingly. Their indus
try and frugality were SO universal that
extreme poverty became thing un-
known. Their ways were ways of
pleasantness, for they did justice and
administered charity, not only to one
another, but to all who lived among
them and the stranger within their
gates. Leaving polygamy out Of the
question the statistics show them to be
the most virtuous and upright people
that ever colonized a new country on
this continent. They had great nat
ural difficulties to overcome. The
valley of the great Salt Lake, when
they went to it, was an arid desert so
barren that Colonel Burger, who
knows it well, said he would give
$1,000 for the first bishel of wheat
that could be grown there. But by a
system of irrigation, admirably organ.
lied, established by enormous labor,
and maintained by incessant vigilance,
together with steady and skillful cult
vation, thew have made it goodly
land of fruitful farms and thriving
towns. This great result could have
been achieved only by free people
protected by laws of their own
making, administered by officers of
their own choice. To take from them
their right of local SELF. government
would be visitation upon them worse
than general conhagration."
"How could a change in their gov.
ernment produce such a disastrous eff
feet =
! Judge Black: 81 will tell you in q
moment. But just here let me show
you how the evil thing is threatened
The governor and other Federal
officers, and few more who back
them, have for years made no secret
of their desire to clutch the territorial
government. Early in the last session
they lobbied for an act of Congress
authorizing them to seize it. Bu
they failed entirely. After the Ed
munds bill, and after the commission
by its neglect of duty had broker
down the August election, they got al
amendment stuck into the appropria
tion bill and passed through the Senat'
in utter ignorance of the situation
But that, too, was an abortion, for i
did not give the much coveted power
Since that time (only few days ago
the governor has issued a proclamation
declaring his intention to throw ou
lO5 of the peoples officers, and namin!
the persons whom he will put in thei
places. This as grand coup d eta
which, if it succeeds, will make tn
whole territorial government the pre-
, of the spoiler. He and his assistant
! in the iniquity will annihilate tn
power of the people to govern then
selves SO as to manage their own a.
fairs in any particular. Controlling
: the local magistrates, the sherffs AM
: constables there will be no check upo
their rapacity. Owning every assessor
l. collector, treasurer and custodians {
e public money, they will revel in plul
der. No mans rights or property wi
, be secure, and no man can safely 70
5 low any business but that of theft I
frame excuses for these acts of OF
9 preston they will invade the privac
!, of families kitchens and bed chan
y bers will be watched by eaves-dro
pers, and visited by hireling spies
! lying delaytors A vulgar despotisl
1 like that would be measureless c.
II lamity to any community on which
= might be imposed To Utah it woul
I be fatal She cannot stand VIII;
r South Carolina did. No ten years
t good stealing can be found there"
s. "Why do you believe that such te
3 rible consequences will follow Il
:: governors success in the movement
a 1t seems to me hard and harsh to d
II nounce them in advance"
THE DANGER OF NATIONAL oPPREssIo
# Judge Black: 81 can only Judge
r. the future by the past. expect the
, persons to act after their kind. 4
"a men who by force or fraud ever G
a possession of such power, have abus
IF it most atrociously, and one set is
:, bad as another. Wherever an il
a. perial government has sent its agen
upon an out lying province to contr
it without regard to the rights, feelin
, or interest of the people, plunder, @
N preston and cruelty have gone wi
e. them. Ireland attests this by sew
rs hundred years of suffering. O
'e fathers asserted it in the Declarati
i, Of Independence, and if you wa
Mt more recent proof look at the unspes
y able outrages perpetrated upon t
ne South by the carpt tbag felons.
IN the thinking men know it is max
~ that the refusal of local self-gove
ke ment, or home rule, to any State
90 Territory means the denial of eve