Salt Lake evening Democrat. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1885-1887, 1885-03-16
FEDERAL AFFAIRS AND FEBERAG
OFFICIALS.

Saturday night We said there was
most serious condition of affairs here, and
that things were fast coming to crisis.
We repeat it to-day, and are more con-
vinced OF the fact than we were then.
Why do we repeat it tonight, and what
new, if any, information have we? Be-
cause it is time, and we want people to
know and comprehend it, and to fully
appreciate it. 1t is because we have
had old news confirmed, and many
suspicious have become facts. Further,
we have seen high men from both parties
in strange places. On our old informa-
ton, we nail this thesis to the doors of
the Meas and of the Tribune: The con-
taict of authority IN Utah Territory IS iR
check, and that each paper knows it and
is silent and waiting to see who shall first
cry, "checkmate. 1t is consultation
game on both sides.
What is this conflict of authority in
in Utah? 1t is this: The Mormon peo-
pile came to Utah when it was Mexican
territory, and doubtless intended to build
up state that would, from its strength,
be able to obtain recognition from
Mexico, and if the recognition was not vol
UNFAIRLY given to take it. This policy was
not definitely mapped out in the beginning,
but was gradually assuming that shape,
when the war with Mexico broke out,
and Utah with other territory was ceded
under the treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo
to the United States. 1t was from the
United States they had gone to find
refuge. AT that time it was refuge, we
say, and not kingdom on earth" they
were seeking. Bear this in mind.
The Mormon church being exclusive,
was necessarily dominant. Churches
being, as they all think, of eternity, heed
not the changes which time brings. The
change brought about by this new con-
dition was much the same as the old one
from which they sought to be forever free.
The Mormons had come under the ex-
elusive jurisdiction of the United States,
and there was no State government to in
anyway interfere. The charter of politi-
cal power in Utah was then as it is now,
the Organic Act; it defined all our powers
here, and our relations to the Federal
government. The first Legislative notice
OF Utah politics was the famous law of
'62. 1t was in nowise obeyed, and to put
the truth as it is, was not respected. "
was sincerely believed by Mormons to be
unconstitutional, and there was a ques-
tion by non-Mormons as to its validity.
The Reynolds case decided the matter,
and the law of '62 was sustained.
During the interim from '62 to 'S2 we
had the Poland Law, with many sugges-
lions and much agitation. In 'S2 came
the Edmunds law and the Utah Commits
sion, test oaths and the disfranchisement
OF numerous voters. The balance of
power remained where it had been and
must ever be and ought to remain in all
government based on the will of the peo-
pie and that will finding expression at
the polls. This being the case, wherein
was itsspossible for any conflict of author
lty to arise between the parent, the
Federal government, and the child, the
Territorial government? 1t was here:
In every country of modern Europe, in
every State composing the American
Union, as well as in ancient Greece and
Rome, the family and the power to,deter-
mine and to define its status, with its
rights and its duties, carrying with it
as it does, the laws of inheritance
and the rules governing descents,
has always been within the domain of
civil polity, and must there remain. The
family status in all these countries has
ever been based upon the monogamic
system. In Utah, the polygamic system
was established by the Church, and the
Territorial Legislature, composed of
and controlled by the Church
did nothing in the premises. The Ma
'ional Legislature did, and de-
;lared that to establish family status
slien to and inharmonious with that of
he whole country, both in sovereign
States and Federal Territories, was a
rhine, and must be punished as such.
On the other hand, the Mormon church
aid it is our religion, and the sConstitu- ,
ion guarantees non-interference with the
rec exercise thereof The United
states have said, ait NAV be
our religion, and your sincerity we do
lot doubt, but it is the very foundation
our being, and to give to another its
ontrol is to imperil our life." The
'hurch said, ''it is God's;" the Govern
lent said, "it is Caesars, and to Caesar
lust and shall be rendered the things
nat are C@sar's." That is the situation
ere is the conflict. Does any man here
'-day doubt the earnestness with which
cesar has spoken? The hand of Cesar .
being felt, while the hand of God is not j
zen.
Part of the trouble has been created bv
nited States officials who have had
ore interest for themselves than their
Dvernment. 1t is so to-day. A con "
ant cry has been that more legislation
needed in Utah, and yet no effort, un-
the present one, has been made to A.
e how nearly old legislation would
eet the situation. 1t is meeting it very
ell; it is telling anew the story of the