Salt Lake evening Democrat. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1885-1887, 1885-12-24
A MERRY Christmas and a Happy New
Year to all, with many happy returns.
FOR GOVERNOR OF UTAH.

The anomalous political and social con-
ditions which exist in Utah require that
the Federal officials in this Territoy
should be superior men. The men who
have filled the Federal Offices in Utah
have not always been superior men; in
fact it may be said of many of them that
they have been inferior men. But this
is not all. The Federal officials of Utah
as a rule have been aliens to the Terri
tory and they have obtained their offices
as a reward for political services,
either rendered by them or by some
= political baron whose villains they have
been. Their interest in Utah has been
but the interest of the political adven-
turer who comes in quest OF gain or poll
tical preferment Their interest has been
in their office, and to that alone has it
been confined. When the political ak
has fallen upon them and severed their
official heads they have gone elsewhere,
for Utah was not their home. Some few
who have been SO decapitated have re-
manned in Utah, but it has never been
the case with Territorial Governor who
has come to Utah. The Chief Executive
of the Territory, of all others, should
be bona tide resident of the Terri
tory. Such an Executive should know
the temper OF the people and should know
the needs of the hour To know this
temper and these needs, he must have
been a long time resident within the Ter
ritory before his preferment to so respon-
sible and distinguished post as that of
Governor. He should have such material
interest in the Territory that he will be
.solicitous for the promotion and advance
ment OF every branch of industry, and he
should recognize the great fact that the
encouragement of one industry to the
neglect of all others is to work detri-
ment to the general prosperity. These
are general qualifications, essential in Gov
ernors everywhere. The Governor of Utah
Territory should possess other equally es-
sential qualifications, for the condition
of affairs in Utah is totally different from
what they are elsewhere in the United
States. The great majority OF the people
of Utah are Mormons, and in many re-
spects the pretensions OF their religion
have been inconsistent with the authority
of the General Government. In these
pretensions they have been sincere, and
it is this very sincerity that has made all
attempts to deal with things in Utah so
difficult and so unsatisfactory. The Leg
islature of the Territory is elected by the
Mormons, but the Governor of Utah has
an absolute veto upon all measures passed
by the Legislature. This veto power is
OF an autocratic nature, and in its eXer-
else the greatest discretion is necessary.
for an ill-advised use of it might work
great injustice and make more
bitter the already too bitter feeling
which exists between Mormons and nom
Mormons in Utah, while wise
use of it would do much towards harmon
izing all parties in Utah. The Governor
OF Utah Territory should have decision
of character, but at the same time he
should be man of pleasing address and
conciliatory manners, for these would
often give to his refusals the garb OF CON
cession, and as proper Governor would
never veto 4 wise measure nor use his
power cautiously, there would exist be-
tween the Executive and the Legisla-
ture the most cordial relations, while the
mutual respect and confidence which
would be engendered would tend to rid
the Territory ef the evils from which it
now suffers. The Governor of Utah Ter
ritory should be Democrat and In full
sympathy with the Administration,
but Utah has not such a Governor.
AS Democrat in full sympathy
with the Administration; as a Democrat
of much and varied experience in politi
cal affairs; as bona fde resident Of
Utah Territory for many years; as a man
whose material interest is identified with
the material welfare OF Utah; as man
who would be decisive where decision is
necessary, but whose conciliatory man
ner would make Welding, where proper,
both dignified and gracious; as man
who would use the veto power wisely and
never abuse it cautiously, we nominate,
and ask the Democratic party OF Utah to
join us inrequesting the appointment by
the President. as Governor of Utah Terri
tory, Samuel A. Merritt.