The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1883-01-18
SEATED AND SETTLED.

has been sworn in as Delegate from
Utah for the unexpired term in the
present Congress. While this in
formation was no more than those
who believed in the national law
making power doing its legitimate
duty expected, there were not lack
ing sufficient number whose be-
liefs were otherwise; and, taking
the past as criterion, their posi-
ton was by no means the "baseless
fabric of a dream" The nation at
large, and the legislative body which
represents it, have not at all times
shown that due regard for the re-
served rights Of the sovereign people
inhahiting the territories which
should always characterize the
dealings Of those who hold official
power with those who are immedi-
ately affected thereby; there has
been quite too much pandering to
popular prejudice, too much surren-
dering to what was considered the
prevailing sentiment, too much
yielding to the clamors of a preiu-
diced class-in other words, too
much demagogery and why should
not those whose existence as a great
factor in the body polite Of Utah
has been beclouded and befogged by
the efforts of small-fry politicians,
and the consequent work Of thought
less statesmen, be distrustful and
even unbelieving?
The seating of John T. Game
as a delegate from Utah,
would per Sc mean nothing
in a national sense; it would simply
be the categorical performance
which results periodically in such
cases; but there is at this time some
thing above and beyond all this;
there was the standard proposition
involved as to whether or not the
national lawmakers would receive
a representative from this Terri
tory whose choice to that position
was unattended by the customary
formula which embraces more Of
red tape than of logic, more Of tech.
nicality than of justice. The Gov
ernor refused to call an election the
Commission refused to accept such
responsibility; the officers of the
government who are supposed to
act in our interest gave the matter
the cold shoulder; and the people
themselves, taking chances on
the issue, decided to fight it out
win or lose, on the question of solid
principle. Few there were who
entertained hopes of success, for
reasons already stated; as between
local tyranny and general bigotry
the pass to success, however fully
deserved, seemed too narrow to per-
nit the peoples cause to enter and
emerge from it; but they did enter,
and they have emerged on the other
side of the gap.
1t seems little singular that in
this age of well-defned law and
clearly-established principles OF
right, it should be deemed the occa.
sion OF eomplimenting Congress
upon doing so plain and simple an
act of justice; elsewhere il
would be so. In Utahs there il
nothing singular about it. Those
who elected the present Delegate
are prepared for. almost anything
Congress may do IN the wsy of dis
reimbursement, proper or improper
the hard routine of a generation
existence spent in developing thi
l part of the national domain has in
ured them.to all kinds of bitter ez
perience, and they. receive thei
i legel and constitutional rights fror
; the hands of their rulers with a
much thankfulness as though the
q were obtaining something whic
q was extended as special favor.
J In seating our Delegate, Congre;
!! has not merely honored him, bu
y itself. The Territory is surely el
|; titled to what little representatio
g the organic act provides; and
u from any cause they deem or
% man ineligible, they ca
, scarcely refuse to recei1
Il another selected with special refel
ence to the DEVIATION of such obie
lions as caused his predecessor
to exclusion. No matter wheth,
h those in authority called an electiC
L or not; Game was the choice of Il
lg people as expressed by their ba!lo
a properly cast; and it was Il
ut bounden duty of Congress to 1
~ ceive him, or admit that the con
b. pact entered into with the citize
er of the United States in the Terrific
IN of Utah was void and Of NO affe,