Salt Lake evening Democrat. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1885-1887, 1885-05-02


| be taken by any person who had eve
lived in polygamv, or who cohabited Wit
more than one woman in the marriag
. relation" but it could be, and was takel
bv persons who cohabited with more thai
one woman not in the marriage relation
thus DISTINGUISHING only Mormons ant
permitting non Mormon violators OF tn
law to register and vote.
They have arbitrarily assumed to eXer
else legislative powers byt promulga
ton of rules and orders which, in effect
materially changed the existing laws anC
excluded from the polls thousands o
legal voters, who have since been restored
to the privileges of electors by the deci
sion OF the Supreme Court OF the United
States
They have presumed to exercise the
highest order of judicial authority, by de-
claring void the acts of the Legislative
Assembly of the Territory of Utah which
| provides for the election of Territorial
officers, and they have arbitrarily, and
without authority of law, forbidden and
! prevented the canvass and return OF
any votes cast for these officers since
the passage of the Edmunds law; thus
completely nullifying and abrogating
statutes of the Territory which have re-
ceived the implied sanction of Congress,
and have never been pronounced invalid
by the courts, but which have been in
force and acted upon as valid laws for
many years.
They have constituted themselves a
Supreme Tribunal for the determine
ton of all matters in the Territory
pertaining to elections and the qualifi-
cations of voters, and their opinions
and orders upon these subjects have
been regarded by their appointees as the
supreme law of the land
They have grossly abused their au-
thority in the appointment of registra-
ton officers by selecting for such posi-
tons, whenever possible, only such
persons as belong to the anti-Mor-
mon faction, denying to the majority
party, whose members comprise four
ffths of the population of the Terri
tory, representation among the regis
trars. And in the appointment of
judges of election they have either re-
fused the majority party any represen-
tative at all or have only given it one of
the three judges in each precinct.
They have assumed to be charged, as
the representatives of the Federal
Government here, with the duty of SUD-
pressing polygamy, and have pre-
sumed to advise the President and Con
gress as to the kind of legislation they
deemed necessary for that purpose.
the most radical and ex-
treme measures, thereby showing them
selves the pronounced enemies of the
Mormon people.
We complain of the injustice done us
by the United States officials mt to exc
cute the laws they have generally allied |
themselves with sectarian priests and DO |
ltlcal adventures, lending their execu-
i've or judicial influence to foment local
aud degrade us in the esti-
nation OF people abroad.
The Governors of Utah, possessing alb
olute veto power, have usually been
tespotic IN their ministerial acts.
Governor Shaffer in 1870 forbade the
militia to muster, drill or assemble for
my purpose. So far was this order car
led into effect that the aid of Federal
roops was invoked to prevent the march
ng OF company of militia in Salt Lake
lily In public celebration of the ami
'ersary of American independence.
Inc present Governor especially, has
cted the part of petty tyrant.
In ms Official messages and reports.
n MS contributions to the press, and in |
rs public addresses, he has persistentiy
the state of affairs in
tan, and seized upon every opportunity
D arouse popular prejudice and hatred
gainst her people.
lie sought to defeat the expressed will I
the people by declaring a man receiy-
lg l,357 votes elected over one for whom
8, 1868 votes were cast.
lie endeavOred without authority of
lw to displace the officers of the Terri I
Dry elected by the people, and fill their :
laces with men of his own appointing. /;
lie has accused us of lack of interest in :
1ucational matters, but when a bill was !
assed by our Legislature appropriating =
loney to build University. he refused :
sign it; the building, however. was :
'ected with means furnished bv private I
tlzens and stands a monument TO his =
lame.
The Edmunds act CONCENTRATES the dis
'ntlnuance of the Utah Commission On !
ION as the Territorial Legislature sbould !,
divide for filling the registration and ),
ecIloh olllces under the local laws but n
hen ,6lll was submitted to him provid- n
& Tor TINS, IN full conformity to the Ed o.
unds law and other acts of Congress. he o
toes the bill and thus continued the +,
onnilssloners In office, contrary to the w
'entlon OF Congress, to the ANNOYANCE
the people OF Utah, and at great ex- W
nse to the Nation. "
The last Legislature passed bill ap- h,
rtIonlng tne representation of the Ter u,
ory This bill was drawn Up in accord r
&c with the Governors suggestions, but III
len IL was presented to him for his sig w
ture, he treated it with contemptuons n
ence, thus insulting the legislators and hi
people who elected them. nj nj
lhese and many other similar acts W;
md him despot, unworthy to govern co
ong his fellow-men. ~,
The Edmunds law, which not only nro- l lUi
es for the punishment of polvgamv. aS
also Tor cohabitation with more than 49,
woman, whether in the marriage re- 1io
on or outside of it, is made to operate i wv,
IN one class of people only-the Nor c l,S
yet OF the non-Mormon class a..
. transgress the law the name is legion me-
he paramour OF mistresses and har- 40,
> secure from prosecution, walks in on,
streets IN open day. No United States a OF
;lal puts ''spotter" on his trail or '''V
Aes an effort to drag his deeds Of
me ana guilt before Judge and iurv liz LIE
investigation and punishment. Rnt plie
2 the contrast: u' 10
1 Utah, Idaho and Arizona a COMFORT
.ssault is made upon the Norman,
Pile. '' -i0i iiioil -
opotIers' and spies dog their foot
o. Delators thrust themselves into va
I 1JIs and watch at windows. ske
. ! Its are questioned upon the streets mu
> 'ng marital relations of their pa &c
?. FAMILIES are dragged before Com tbre
'loners and grand juries and on pain tas