The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1884-07-24
THE POLICE.
Why They are Abused and
Maltreated.

1uDIlC SSutlm6ub las DcGl SO
poisoned by the continued personal
abuse of the Salt Lake policemen,
that Immediately upon any arrest
being made, an cutlery is raised in
defence of the offender, while the
officer meets with condemnation.
The common idea of the relative
standing of the parties, appears to
have been seriously disturbed, and
the sympathies of a certain, or
rather uncertain, element are
regularly bestowed upon the dis
turber of the peace. There are rea
sons for this state of affairs, and
while l will not assert that the po-
lice officers are blameless, am con.
uinced that they are less to blame
than any of their detractors would
have been under similar provoca,
lions.
1t is frequently asserted by the
newspaper and other roughs of this
city, that the policemen never strike
the members of the Mormon faith,
when circumstances make it neces-
sary to arrest such persons. The
same parties asaert that the police
never miss an opportunity to NAL
treat and murderously assault any
Gentle, who comes within their
control. One paper remarks thai
the evidences of ill-treatment by
police officers are all on the faces of
Gentiles, and none on the Mormons;
Suppose this statement were true
does 1t follow that the officers are
respectels of persons Not by any
means. May it not argue that the
Mormons commit fewer offenkes !?
That they offer less resistance to
the officers? That, being slaves to
the priesthood, they have not the
independence of genuine manhood
CD which belongs to the bold and
adventurous gentlemen who owe
no allegiance to the church?
Is is not a fact that the Gentle
always, or nearly always, announces
his irreligious proclivities the mo-
ment the policeman attempts to
make his arrest. Is it not well
known that the hatred OF Norm. n
ism causes many of the troubles be.
tween the disturber5 of the peace
and the off GERS.
Would such troubles arise If the
rowdy element were made to sense
It's duty to surrender to any officer,
whether be b. a Mormon or a
Methodist? Who have taught these
lawless creatures to resist, and what
is the object of the teachers? The
educators OF this class are too well
known to need designation, and the
object is too apparent to deceive
anyone, It is all told in the ALTER
alive phrase, "Rule or ruin"
To what will it lead? There can
be but one ending: the encourage,
ment of the lowest and most degrad-
ing influences, AMI the retardati0n
of all that is progressive and bene-
fetal to the well being of society.
Every william in the city feels that
if ne can inflct some physical injur
upon a'Mormon policeman, he be-
comes thereby hero. He feels GER
tain Of encouragement, and he
therefore strives to reach ss high a
pinnacle of fame as is possible.
1t would seem that the limit of
patience had been almost reached.
The officers are personally maligned
in frequent issues OF the daily press,
and the co anon prig is led to be-
lieve that it is his sacred duty to
avenge himself upon a policeman.
Never 10 an arrest properly
made, according to these venal
Villitiers, and never do they
speak a word Of commend
alton for brave act performed by
an officer. All is calumny, vituper-
alton and misrepresentation, which
the drunken brawler, and danger
GUS foot-pad interpret into license
to resist. II is the only intelligent
conclusion. The whole trouble is,
that the Mormons, being In the ma
jority, naturally place in office those
Of their own party, and the opposi,
ton. being reduced TO such terrible
straits, appear to think it wise to
endanger their own place, for the
purpose of weakening Mormon in
huence. What methodl What q
motivep XERxEs.
salt Lake City, July 23d, 1884.