Salt Lake evening Democrat. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1885-1887, 1885-12-07


vestigation of the rumors in circulation at
the present time affecting the peace and
welfare of the city and its inhabitants be
had, commencing Monday, Dec. 7th. at
10 a. IN.
to attend said investigation and to furnish |
the Council any information concerning the |
matter that YOU may be in possession OF.
Very respectfully,
HsBEB Nj. WELLS,
City Recorder.
We are glad to see that the City Conn
Gil have awakened to u sense of the situ-
alton here, for we were beginning TO
think that nothing would ever awaken
them save Gabriels trumpet. So there
is to be an investigation Of the rumors in
circulation at the present time affecting
the peace and welfare of the city and its
inhabitants. And this, too, when the
News assures the world that our city ls
"as quiet as any New England village"
The City Council may be acting on their
own volition, but we doubt it. II may be
doing tho Council an injustice to say that
they are acting under orders, but still the
impression is quite general that the City
Council is more or less under the infu
ence of the church dominant of Utah. So
strong is this impression, that only this
very morning a prominent Mormon said
to us, "I think Mr.. Cannon has become
alarmed on account OF the sending in of
troops, and thinks something had better
be done to allay the excitement"
Now, why is there any excitement in
Utah and why does it increase instead OF
decrease? The position OF Utah has
been anomalous for many years, and is
anomalous to-day. Utah Territory has
been a political organization ruled by and
in the interest OF an ecclesiastical organi
zation. In early years this was not so
strange thing rs it has been OF late
years. In early years almost the entire
population OF Utah belonged to this
ecclesiastical organization, and such
being the case. there were few
to object to such arrangement. But
times have changed, and the arrange
ments OF years ago are incompatible with
the condition OF the Territory to-day !;
but the ecclesiastical organization still
makes its claim to right to rule. Along
with the assertion OF this right, this or
ganization assumes to found the family
on basis other than that upon which it
has been founded in every other part OF
the Union, and different from the basis
upon which it has been founded in every
Christian country. In 1862 the Congress
OF the United States made the formation
OF the family on this basis crime, and
did the same thing again in 1882. But the
Mormon people persisted in violating these
laws. The Government, to enforce its
laws and vindicate its authority, began Il
vigorous prosecution OF offenders against
the Edmunds law, and though the number
convicted and punished under this Act
have not been great, still the effect OF
these prosecutions has been to spread
and to cause Il great many to absent
themselves temporarily, or perhaps per-
manently, because they were suspected
OF violating the Edmunds law, either by
liable to prosecution for polygamy and
unlawful cohabitation are very consider
able in number, amounting to many
thousands, and these have the deep
sympathy OF their co-religionists who are
not liable to prosecution. Those who are
in sympathy with those who are being
prosecuted, or who may be prosecuted
are almost as much excited as those who
are in danger. Here, then, is the frs
great cause for the rumors referred to il
the letter OF Recorder Wells, and which
the City Council have determined tc
investigate. Let us enumerate the othe
immediate causes:
On the Fourth OF July last the nationa
flag was placed at half-mast on many
prominent buildings, including the Cit,
Hall and the County Court House. Th
placing of it so upon these two building
caused just Indignation on thu
part OF those citizens who d,
not deem it cause for mournin,
when the laws OF the country are beini
enforced. The City Marshal when aske,
why he had placed the flag at half mas
on the flagstaff at the City Hall, replie
that it was "mere whim.' The Deput
Sheriff who placed it at hall mast on tn
Comfy Court House never gave any eS
planation. The matter assumed such
shape that the City Council deemed
advisable to appoint a committee to in
vestigate the matter, and this committe
reported favorably. Their report justiiie
the act in this language;
In the same spirit, and with the same fee
ing the Marshal of this city, who had take
this into consideration, felt that in no bette
way could the prevailing sentiment be Q,
pressed on this occasion than by displayin
our eountry's flag at half mast, thereby 81,
nifying that, as when people rejoice they n
joice under the flag, so also when they mour
they mourn under the flag. Some of I'll
citizens have expressed their Indignation
the action of the Marshal.
The whim OF the City Marshal was ther
by erected into the dignity OF patriotism
Throughout the Territory the act OF Il
Marshal was lauded from the pulpts
the people, and from the indulger
whims the Marshal became the standar
bearer of the Mormon church. III
Mayor OF the city knew nothing OF Il
whim OF the Marshal until he had i
dulged it.
Two weeks ago the city began Il