Salt Lake evening Democrat. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1885-1887, 1885-12-09
UTAH IN THE MESSAGE,

polygamy in the same comprehensive
and conservative manner that he has
treated all other matters. No specific
recommendation are made, although the
President says he shall be glad to approve
such further discreet legislation as will
rid the country OF polygamy. What
would constitute discreet legislation, as
understood by the President, ca only be
known when bills affecting Utah are sub
mitted to the President for his signature
and he approves or disapproves them.
The man who is in the midst OF the
fight does not see so clearly how it is
going as one who watches 1t from afar.
So it is with people in Utah, and all par
their eyes more or less couded by pas
sion and prejudice. But there is some
chance to estimate how goes the bat
tie even in Utah. Look at the field;
look at the parties and their respective
positions. Every stand that the Gov
eminent has taken in regard to the
enforcement of the Edmunds law and the
suppression OF polygamy has been main
tained Not so with those who have
been violating the Edmunds law. From
bold and open defiance OF Congress
and the laws of the land they went to the
President with muling, puking petition,
and the pretensions of divine right sank
into an insignificant request for an impair
tial enforcement of the laws. 1t has been
clearly demonstrated that men can be
convicted under the Edmunds law, for
men are now suffering imprisonment for
violating that law That the evidence in
these cases is difficult to obtain is true.
1t is difficult to obtain because of the gen.
eral sympathy which violators OF the Ed
munds law receive from the great major
ity OF the people of Utah. So long as
this sympathy exists it will always be
more or less difficult to obtain evidence
in prosecutions for polygamy or unlawful
cohabitation; and this will be the case,
no matter what laws may be enacted for
the suppression of polygamy.
Many radical measures have been advo-
Gated for the solution OF the Utah question
Within week martial law has been adj
vocated for Utah, but martial law would
in nowse solve the Utah question.
Martial law would prevent any organized
outbreak, but we do not think there is
any danger of such an outbreak Neither
rfi In, al, t1,, ,e
citizens secure from the attack OF the
assassin. On the contrary, martial law
would be an invitation to the assassin.
The enactment OF any OF the recommen-
dations OF the Utah Commission would
not be a solution OF the question, because
the adverse conditions which exist in
Utah to-day would continue after there
had been complete revolution in politi-
cal affairs. That which all who have
any sincere desire to see the Territory
happy and prosperous and in harmony
with the rest of the country wish to see,
is the removal of the adverse conditions
with which the Territory is troubled. To
establish martial law or to il stitute Il
Legislative Commission would not be
ipsO facto solution OF the Utah question.
The question whether the one or the
other of these radical remedies would
hasten the solution OF the pro blem,
and bring about that condition of things
which all lovers of the country
so ardently desire, still remains.
Are not these radical remedies more liza
BILE to delay the day of Utah's redemp-
ton than to hasten it? 1t is this appre-
hension, this well-founded apprehension,
which makes so many hesitate to give
any countenance to such remedies, as
well as their dislike to such u radical
departure from the true principles OF re-
publican government.
We believe the solution is now going
on, but that it may finally be accom-
plished there should be, as the President
says. "no relaxation III the firm but Just
execution of the laws now in operation "
Any such relaxation at the present or at
any future time, would be looked upon by
the violators OF the Edmunds law as an
encouragement and invitation to further
violation Of the law. The evil under
which Utah suffers is already great, and
all efforts Of the Government should be
to make it less, while everything which
would in any way give the violators of
the law hope or encouragement should be
avoided.