The semi-weekly miner. [volume] (Butte, Mont.) 1882-1886, 1884-11-19
WHY NoRMuNs AR1 DINO
CRAM j

i
In aArsoedA issue oE - Dee6vs,
M4ssSS oil asked Qnestibn whJths
Mdnmo1b arr pemoetats Unanswered
in = articles temperatein tone and
,soseandid insxpres1on that We make
room for it. After noting tho fact
that many are pussled over Normon
rejoicings at the election OF Cleve'
land and want to know what the
Mornons expect Ut the hands Of the
Democratic party when it again
comes into power the Neacs says:
"The Mormon" people lean to
Democratic principles because those
principles are in c~oDsonance with the
constitution and pfeservative o flocal
and individual rights. They do not
anticipate any liberalization of the
Democratic party with Mormon
institutions, secular or religious.
They do not put their trust In par
ties In any way. They look for de-
cided opposition from the party now
rising from the obscurity OF twenty
four years, when It shall once more
hold the reins of power. But they
think that, for . season ct least, that
party will not be likely to ignore
these constitutional restrictions
which are the safeguard of popular
government, aftef-tAe fashion Of the
party that is losing its grip upon the
heart Of the Nation. They think
that q change of administration can
not very we'll be for the worse; that q
change of Federal officials for the
Territory must in the main be some
improvement; that the lowest black
guards; and most villain0as con-
spirators who have been plotting the
ruin of Utah will receive aset-back
by the defeat Of the Republican party;
that the Legislative Commission
scheme will get such Q blow in its
vital parts as will knock the breath
out of it, for no real Democrat can
endorse it and pretend to be consist
ent; that Its supporters and apollo
gists will wilt and gsind their gums
In 'chagrin over their gloomy pros
poets ; that some persons vino have
swelled like turkeycocks and assumed
to lord it over the "M0rmon" people
will shrink into their natural habbi-
ness and look like the Herald's
plucked and disconsolate chicken.
For all this the people rejoice.
ut Is a great mistake to suppose
that the 'Mormons' had any grudge
against Mr.. Blaine. They have had
no special reason to dislike him nor
occasion to fear him. They regard
as q man of great ability and
knowledge Of most public
questions. His mention of Utah
affairs in his letter. of acceptance of
The Republican nomination was, per-
haps, the most pronounced thing
that has come from him on that mat
ter. But there was little in it, and 1t
was necessary for HIM to say as much
Is he did that he might be seem in
harmony with the Re publican party.
The 'Mermons' had no dread Of
himself. But they regarded
him as q politician in the common
acceptance of the term, and q repre-
sentative of the worst elements of the
party which has attempted to destroy
the remnant of republican govern
ment and the small modicum of polit-
fcal liberty doled out of the territory of
While in Cleveland they
recognized . man Of stamina, who
has exhibited spirit of fairness and
magnanimity In his public career
hitherto, and who gives promise OF q
fair and honest and constitutional
administration of public affairs, and
who is likely to act on his own con-
victions, and be governed by those
principles that are essential to q
government. las for
'polygamy.' which IL still rung in by
anti-'Mormons' whenever Utah af-
are discussed, the people here do
not expect it will receive any more
favor from Democrats than from Re
It does not properly cut
any figure in the politics of this Ter
It is not. an actual living
issue except in a religious or judicial
sense. Practical poIygamists and
those who have been such are ex.
from office and from the polls.
Men who engage In plural marriage
are liable to prosecution and heavy
It is not imagined that q
administration will at
tempt to change this. or to favor in
any way the practice or perpetuation
of pOlygamy. Those who pretend
that such q change is probable or al
lege that the 'Mormons' anticipate it
are either very foolish or very false;
if they know anything about it they
know better than what they say"