The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1884-12-25
UTAH.
Is She to be Admitted as
a State?
APARTMENT QUESTION ASKED.
VIII Democracy Aid Her III
aStruggIe for RecOg-
milton?

articles since IHe NO'SAhAN
and though having more of a like kin'
in store, we think it in season to writ
a line on Utah's prospects, wishing as
preface to all good and loyal Utahans
a Merry, Merry Christmas and Happ!
New Year. Having been most rigidly
schooIed in the principles of Demo
cracy, we know the fundamental PRIN
C1PLE to be the execution of the law;
of the land in strictly impartial man
ner. Nowsto thepoint. For years this
opulent Territory has knocked at the
Congressional door, seeking admission
and recognition as a State OF the
United States. To all these appeals, a
deaf ear has been turned, and why ?
Because polygamy was a protested
tenet of the Mormon faith and
that was in direct opposition
to the laws of the land.
We wish to make ourself very explicit,
and perhaps in furthering that aim will
go over much space. yet it is now time,
hiGh time, some friend of Utah should
come forward and speak deiantly,
truthfulIy, plainly and yet respectfully
in her defense. Let US note in this
conjunction a remark made by that
erudite divine, President Cannon, at
the Tabernacle on Sunday, the 9TH inst.
Among other things, he remarked that
In times gone by the Saints OF this
church referring to the Mormonsl
took wives in lawful wedlOck and reared
up honorable and Christian families;
HIT 10 Iofy OIL
they would abide by the law. Again,
the venerable President, John Taylor,
at the Stake Conference, on the 18th
inst, closed his remarks with these
words: I'VE will do right and sustain
the Constitution of the United States,
and God will bless u.s." What inference
can be drawn from these remarks,
emanating, as they did, from the high
est authorities in the Mormon church?
To US, and to all men, rational and I'M
biased, we plainly understand, then,
that bigamy and polygamy with the
Latter-day Saints of the Church of |
Jesus Christ will not be practiced here
after.
Now as to Mormonism proper. Is
member of either the Catholic, Baptist, /
Methodist. Episcopalian or Presby .
church barred from suffrage or office ? /
No, by no means, for all those Creeds |
can be enumerated in our Congressional
halls, State Assemblies and the like, Is |
it unconstitutional or illegal for US to |
believe in the Koran, Bible, or Book of /
Mormon? Does any one of those books
teach US to become bandits or evil
men or women? We cannot I'M
derstand 1t to so deprive man = his po
sitiOn here. Then when we (, e told by
those who preside over the Mormon
church that they are non-polygamous-
why is it we ig ore their just claims?
The element in opposition can now no
longer raise their voices concerning the
twin relic of barbarism" as they are
wont to callit. A great triumph indeed
would it surely be for Democracy to aid
the pioneer Utahans in this effort of
theirs for due recognition. 1t would
add another "twinkler" TO our national
colors and be hailed with acclamations
of Joy on every hand.
From standpoint political. it was evil
dent why Utah was shelved in the past.
Fear of the electoral votes aiding the
Democratic party caused Republican
temeTity in the matter. That is the
reason without doubt.
If man be believer in polygamy,
and does not practice such, he cannot
be denied the franchise, for he has COM
mitted no crime against his government.
He has not set at defiance the laws of
the land in any one particular. We can
believe any doctrine we choose, yet we
deem ourself a good citizen. In this
connection, with the facts as herein
stated staring us in the face, we ask this
question: Can Judge Zane, the "eru-
dite" Illinois jurist, now resort to ex-
tremltles, nay. unprecedented and I'M
exampled in legal Jurisprudence, and
frame a few more of his "pet" open
0e7,ire jurieS to further his schemes?
We acknowledge the Mormon Church
has had much to combat in Utah.
Its members have been most
diligent in their efforts to open up the
vast agricultural domain of the Terri
tory and have shown by their lives that ;
they fully understand that consistency
is jewel and that by working harmoni-
Ously, hand in hand, they are proving
most conclusively the old adage, "In
uniGn there is strength" Integrity,
honesty, industry and christianity. are
we1-known characteristics of all true
members of the Mormon church. They
are quiet, peaceable, and law-abiding.
Viii they be ultimately accorded recog-
milton? Their claims for such are lust.
Their Territory Is now far more densely
populated than some of our States and
they demand admission, so that Utah's
wants can be properly attended to by
her duly elected Representatives and
Senator'S at the National Capital To
day the finger of scorn is pointed at her.
The outside world who know not the
true cause OF the difficult Utah problem
grasp with eagerness all that Kate Field
and other predujiced minds have 10
say, and thus retard the develop
ment of what promises in the near
future to be great State God
grant, the day is near at hand,
when unbiased minds will sift all, and
thens when sthe true state of affairs is
known, this viii no longer be Terri
tory but State of the United States.
Then Governor Eli H can grasp his
carpet bag" and depart for whence he
same-Judge Zane DITTo-and without
ear of disturbance, the people can duly
elect those whose qualifications fit them
or the various positions of trust in a
sovereign and free State.