The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1883-10-31
TERRITORIAL GOVERNORS.

torial article on Territorial Gov
erneTs." It is most truthful and
forcible representation of the sltua"
ton. stating the facts clearly as they
exist. and without mincing or ex-
cusing matters. The New YORK
Times is one of the very few Re-
publican newspapers that dare
speak in such plainness OF an evil
that has been characteristic OF the
party from the first. 1t shows that
the Times has reached a point IL It's
career when it can afford to be IN >
dependent, whatever its party may
be. There is no graver abuse inthe
government of the Territories by
the Federal authority than this one
Of forcing upon them as chief ex-
ecutives, men from abroad who have
no interest in or with the people
they are sent to govern, and VIII IN
nine cases out of ten are personally
and politically offensive to the COM
munities upon whom they are
toisted. The history of Utah in this
matter Is not unlike that of any of
the other Territories, with this diff
ference, that it has seemed at times
the most Objectionable men were
selected for Governors Of this de-
tendency. Only in one instance has
q resident been appointed Governor
of this Territory, and he was re-
moved as soon as Salt Lake had
been made a reasonably pleasant
place in which to live. His sue
cessor was a drunkard, who if he
ever drew perfectly sober breath
in Utah, never let the fact be known
to the outside world. Following him
came two as thoroughbred scrubs
as ever disgraced any public Office.
the latter of them being grossly i'm.
moral as well as corrupt and
scoundrelly generally. The next
two were played out political
hacks, who if they ever possessed
ability must have overcome it by
whisky before they reached Utah.
The next was sent out here to die,
the place being given him with the
idea that the salary would keep
him in whisky until dissolution
took place. We do not know
how nearly correct the estimate
was, but the rum held out
till the last. His successor
was physical, intellectual and
moral wreck before he was ap-
pointed, and did not improve dur
ing his few months incumbency.
His unfortunate and broken
hearted wife was helped to her
friends in the east by the generous
donations Of a few sympathizers
and he went west, drinking himself
to death in Sacramento. We believe,
last year. The stately Webfoot
came next. having played himself
out most completely in Oregon
where he could not be chosen
poundmaster by the suffrages of
those who knew him. The readers
of The HERALD between the years
1871 and 1875 are familiar with
Woods character, as gained from
sleeping car incidents and other
happenings. Woods is within the
easy recollection of all, and every.
body knows how much of q broken
down politician he was. Next came
honest old Axteli, whose chief fault
seemed to be the possession of that
necessary qualification for Terri
torial governorship - the craving
for Office to which the people would
not elect him. He had been a poli-
tician, and being unable to keep up
with the voters, dropped behind and
had to be carried by the party
that he had befriended in
his better days. Emery followed,
and now that he is away, doubtless
never TO return, we can say, with
out laying ourselves liable to the
charge of fattery or bestoWlng
praise for a purpose, that he was
perhaps the ablest and best Cover
nor the Territory has ever had. He
was a gentleman in instinct and de-
pertinent, correct in his morals, and
a man of character and principle.
Tt is true he sometimes displayed a
weakness or fear in the perform.
ance of his duty that was not to his
credit, but we beliese at those times
no did what he thought was for the
best. All are SO familiar with the