The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1884-11-29
THE DEMOCRACY AND UTAH

the coming Democratic administrator
viii have upon Utah, the name Utai
being used as Synonymous with thC
Mormon problem; and very nearly
everybody has expressed al opinion IL
the matter. These opinions vary some
what. but there's remarkable unanimity
o. the part of classes. For instance, Tux
Federal of1ce-holders take q peculiarly
gloomy view of the situation, assuming
that their successors will be ignorant OF
the situation and wanting in determine
ton az well. The "red-hot" anti
Mormons, Republican and Democrats,
profess belief that their cake is al
dough, now that Democratic adj
ministration IS upon Us, and
say that Mr.. Cleveland viii not
be as. severe as Republican Pres
idents have been. The calm, and really
intelligent, thoughtful people, are not
yisibly affected by the result of the
election so far as it relates to the relig-
ious-politicaI question ofsthis Territory.
We may Judge Of the future only by
reference to the past, and in this case a
Judgment so based wouldg be apt to
prove erroneous, for the Democrats have
been out SO long and the conditions of
the country changed so much since
Buchanan's time, that just what their
administrative policy viii be it is utterly
impossible to state, with exactness. OF
one thing, however. all may feel as
sured, namely: that no laws on the
statute books regarding the practices in
Utah, VIII be repealed before their eff
fectiveness has been thoroughly tested.
1t is also a fact that a Democratic
characteristic is the enforcement OF
the law with vigor and earnestness.
The Democrats believe that laws are
enacted to be applied, and not to be
cast aside as worthless. But this char
acteristic should not be understood as
indicating an inclination to violate law
for the sake of applying it, and in this
they differ widely from the Republicans.
the books law against polygamy; dur
ing all that time the Republicans have
eRjoyed absolute control of the general
and local governments, having the ex-
ecutive and judicial machinery of the
nation and Territory in their hands;
the local court officials have been
chosen largely on. account of their anti
Mormon sentiments, and their expressed
earnestness in the matter of putting
down 1.-The evil" IL these twenty-five
years, with all the money, with all the
power of the nation, with the regulation
twin relic" plank in their platform,
with Law of their own making and a
Congress ready and anxious to do more
If the necessity for more were shown,
the Republicans have convicted and
punished one man for polygamy, upon
testimony largely supplied by himself
1t is true, two others are in jail, but
their conviction was brought about by
such irregular and extraordinary
methods that We are inclined to believe
the court itself is confident its action
will be reversed, and the defendants re-
leased. This view is sustained by the
circumstance that the accused have
been denied the bail to which they are
entitled pending an adjudication of their
cases by tribunal given more to the
correct Interpretation of the law than to
the performance of missionary service.
If the local tribunal had confidence in
its positionit would not be vindictiye as
well as determined, knowing that The
punishment It had pronounced would
certainly follow in good time. Itlooks
as if the count meant that the defend.
ants should suffer regardless of the reg
ularity of the methods.
TIE HERALD does not believe that
Democratic judges would be guilty of
such pronounced vindictveness. nor
that Democratic administration would
uphold them in such outrageous pro-
ceedings. There may be convictions.
but if so we believe they viii be brought
about regularly, if it takes twice twenty
two years to get a man into jail for a
violation of law. The Democrats have
higher regard for law than the Repub-
licans have ever manifested, and believe
in less partisanship in courts.
1t is hardly necessary to declare which
viii be better for Utah, Mormons and
non-Mormons, polygamists and monog-
amists alike. If the Democrats will put
a stop to this persecution that is not
prosecution, to this straining for out
side effectrathef than for the intelligent.
honest enforcement of the'law, to this
sensational agitation that is ruinous to
peace, quiet and good order, and viii
go about their affairs like statesmen in
stead of like demagogues, knowing
neither Mormon nor Gentle in the APP
plication of the statutes, the situation
IN Utah will improve from the Inaugural