Salt Lake evening Democrat. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1885-1887, 1885-09-22
WHERE DIR. MILLER STANDS.

The Tribune OF Sunday morning desired
to know where Dr. Miller, the editor Of
the Omaha Herald, stands on the Utah
problem. Just where he stands on the
question he himself can only say, but we
will assume to define his standing on the
Utah question in part DR.. Miller sees
in the Mormon people many sterling
qualities as pioneers and colonists. and as
evidence Of this points to their many
thriving towns and villages; to their we'll
cultivated farms and the general air of
prosperity that surrounds their unpreten-
tious homes. He likewise sees that as
people they are honest, frugal, industri-
Gus and law-abiding. He notices among
them an absence OF that spirit OF restless
ness SO characteristic of western towns
and communities, that spirit OF restless
ness which too often leads TO lawlessness.
He sees these things, but he sees some
other things as we'll We will attempt to
tell what these other things are. He sees
that the Mormon people are an extremely
religious people, religious to fanatacism
From this fanatacism he has seen grow
up the doctrine and practice OF polygamy
under the belief that the same was sent
from God, and he has seen it spread and
spread until it has assumed such magni-
tude that the nation has come to look
upon it with alarm and to heed it as
question that must be met and solved.
Ii we mistake not, he looks upon polyga-
my itself as inconsistent with the Anglo
Saxon idea OF the family, the idea that
the heart and the hearth, and the bright
faces OF happy children, and the loving
care OF fond mother and wife, make the
home. He recognizes that it is upon this
idea of the family as the unit of the State
that the greatness of Anglo-Saxon nations
has been built, and that this idea OF the
family must be preserved If the greatness
OF the nation is to be preserved. He also
the fact that it is the province
OF the State to define the legal status of
the family and to say what shall and |
what shall not constitute legal marriage: |
and he further sees that the Mormon |
church has assumed to dictate in regard /
to this question OF marriage and the |
of the family, and that its die
tation has been in direct antagonism to
the law, and that special laws have been
for the very purpose of suppress
ng polygamy and unlawful cohabitation.
That those who violate these laws must
be made to obey them, the Doctor does |
not Tor one moment doubt. He fully
realizes the temper of the nation and he
thinks that the sentiment of the country
viii sweep over this Territory as whirl-
wind, and that the people OF Utah can
aot stand it. He thinks that the people
'f Utah are decidedly wrong in their
violation OF the law and he hopes that
hey will see the error OF their ways, and
'eelng it, conform to the civilization OF
he age and the laws OF the land. He be-
ieves that the Mormon people are fast
coming to a realization OF the true con-
iitlon of things, and that they are about
o abandon their unlawful practices, and
hat with such abandonment there will
ome better and more healthy political
ituation in Utah. Such, we believe, is
Dr.. Miller's stand on the Utah question.
That the laws must be enforced he holds
s primary doctrine OF Democracy, and
the people Of Utah persist in violating
hem, the people OF Utah should be per-
istently punished. DR.. Miller is opposed
o anything like legislative commission
r the Acknowledgement of the people of
jtah. If We have misrepresented DIR.
liller We have done so unintentionallv,
nd We hope that he himself will, in his
wn paper, define his attitude towards
he Utah question, and We shall take
leasure in republishins his own detini-
on OF his own stand in these columns.