Salt Lake evening Democrat. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1885-1887, 1885-09-22
WHERE DIR. MILLER STANDS.

The Tribune OF Sunday morning desired
to know where DR.. Miller, the editor of
the Omaha Herald, stands on the Utah
problem Just where he stands on the
question he himself can only say, but we
will assume to define his standing on the
Utah question in part. DIR. Miller sees
in the Mormon people many sterling
qualities as pioneers and colonists, and as
evidence oil this points to their many
thriving towns and villages to their we'll
cultivated farms and the general air Of
prosperity that surrounds their unpreten-
tious homes. He likewise sees that as n
people they are honest, frugal, industri-
GUS and lawabiding. He notices among
them an absence OF that spirit OF restless
ness 30 characteristic Of western towns
and communities, that spirit OF restless
ness which too often leads to lawlessness.
He sees these things, but he sees some
other things as well. We will attempt to
tell what these other things are. He sees
that the Mormon people are an extremely
religious people, religious to ianatacism.
From this fanatacism he has seen grow
up the doctrine and practice OF polygamy
under the belief that the same was sent
from God, and he has seen it spread and
spread until it has assumed such magni-
tudc that the nation has come TO look
upon ii with alarm and to heed it as a
question that must be niat and solved.
IL we mistake not, he looks upon polyga-
my itself rs inconsistent with the Anglo
Saxon idea OF the family, the idea that
the heart and the hearth, and the bright
faces OF happy children, and the loving
care OF fond mother and wife, make the
home. He recognizes that it is upon this
idea OF the family as the unit OF the State
that the greatness OF Anglo-SaXon nations
has been built, and that this idea OF the
family must be preserved ii the greatness
of the nation is to be preserved. He also
recognizes the fact that it is the province
OF the State to define the legal status OF
the family and to say what shall and
what shall not constitute legal marriage
and he further sees that the Mormon
church has assumed to dictate in regard
to this question OF marriage and the
formation of the family, and that its die
tation has been in direct antagonism to
the law, and that special laws have been
enacted for the very purpose OF suppress
ing polygamy and unlawful cohabitation.
That those who violate these laws must
be made to obey them, the Doctor does
not ior one moment doubt. He fully
realizes the temper OF the nation and he
thinks that the sentiment OF the country
will sweep over this Territory as II whirl.
wind and that the people oi Utah can
not stand il. He thinks that the people
OF Utah are decidedly wrong in their
violation OF the law and he hopes that
they will see the error OF their ways, and
! seeing IL, conform 10 the civilization OF
the age and the laws OF the land. He be-
| lieves that the Mormon people are fast
coming to realization oi the true con-
dition of things, and that they are about
to abandon their unlawful practices, and
| that with such abandonment there will
come better and more healthy political
situation in Utah. Such. we believe, is
That the laws must be enforced he holds
as u primary doctrine OF Democracy, aud
if the people oi Utah persist in violating
them, the people OF Utah should be per-
| oil t., 4