Salt Lake evening Democrat. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1885-1887, 1885-07-08
sIMILIA sTMILIBUs CURANTUR.

day has not entirely subsidized, and prob
ably will not for some days. Few, If any,
believe that the placing OF the flags 80
was an impromptu affair, or that it was
first suggested by those whose names
now are most conspicuous in the affair
The actual political power which die
tates and controls all things in Utah
is like the power which controls and
directs the movements of the various
planets and all the universe-it is felt and
realized, but not seen. In fact, it is gen.
orally quite well understood that the power
which we feel in Utah is claimed by those
who WELD it to be derived from and CO.
eternal with that other power. One may
safely paraphrase the words of the psalm
lists and say, Hf I take the wings of the
morning and dwell in the uttermost parts
of Utah, this power is there"
Marshal Phillips took "whim" on
the Fourth of July to place the
flag at half mast on the City
Hall, and this, in connection with
like "whims" on the part OF some
of the County Officials and some others,
produced considerable excitement and
great deal OF indignation. For his action
Marshal Phillips assigned no lofty senti-
ments about the loss of freedom, the in
carceration in prison of some of our lead
ing men, the tyranny and unconstitu-
tional raid OF Federal and foreign
officials, his and his peoples sorrowing
and mourning in sack cloth and ashes for
these truly terrible and lamentable
things, but merely a whim. From his
superiors, no doubt
He learned his whims and high flown no
tions too,
Such as fine men adopt, and fine men rue"
Whims, like cholera, are oft contagious,
and our gay, our God-like, our grave and
great City Council took whim that they
would appoint special committee to in
vestigate the "causes of the excitement
which prevailed in Salt Lake City, on
July 4th, 1885, in CONSCIENCE of the
national flag, at the City Hall, having
been hoisted at half-mast, and also the
reasons for the placing of the flag in that
posion," and they have submitted a re-
port that marks this special committee
as men among men, heroes among heroes,
gods among gods. Great is the Diana of
the Ephesans, but greater is the special
committee of the City Council. Their
greatness, like Gods goodness, passeth
all understanding.
"Thou art more beautiful than the evening air
Clad in the beauty of thousand stars"
Let the committee speak, for they do
mouth the voice of the people, and the
voice of the people is the voice of God.
at is well known that there is deep feel
ing in the midst of this community III rela-
tion to the raid that is being made upon the
people because of their religious belief
and practices. Several of our leading
citizens are at the present time in
tho Penitentiary of this Territory; others
having been indicted, and some, feeling con-
fdent that they cannot receive fair treat
ment or Justice in the Federal courts, have
absented themselves from their homes.
There is general feeling of gloom prevail
ing, and instead of Independence Day being,
as ordinarily, day of rejoicing, day when
the people could meet together and join IN
patriotic exercises, orations and other ex-
pressions of delight, because of the liberty
they enjoy, it was felt to be time of mourn
ing"
The committee, the special committee
of the City Council, say that
,f %ha
istence of this feeling among the people, and
without any disrespect TO the flag, the ma
ton or the day, concluded that he would be
meeting the wishes of the people who elected
him to his Office by placing the flag at the
City Hall at half mast"
Marshal Phillips said he did it because
of a mere "whim." To think that the
mourning and feeling of gloom that per-
wade the hearts of the people who elected
% Marshal Phillips to Office should be
treated as a mere "whimW
When the Star of Bethlehem was seen
rising in the East, it took three men to
announce it to Jerusalem, but it took six
wise men of the West to find an explana-
ton for the "whim" of the City Marshal.
If the mourning and gloom were so preva-
lent in the community, it seems strange
that the City Council should not be
aware of it until made manifest by a
"whim" of the City Marshal. There is a
variance between the statement of the
Marshal and the report of the special
committee. Why did not the special
committee explain away this variance see
ing that they have so suddenly come
to a realization of the terrible gloom and
mourning which pervade the community
1t is safe to predict that if they were to
vouchsafe any reason it would be one of
the three with which all are SO familiar
dent know, don't remember or We de-
cline to answer The special committee
say "having duly considered the matter
and heard the statements of the City
Marshal, aud some others an relation TO
the same, beg leave to make the following
report" 1t would be intensely interest
ing and highly instructive to
4 know who the "some others" were
with whom the committee consulted.
Is it possible that they were the same as
those who first started the "whim" ior
, the Marshal and the others? The report
has wonderful similarity to some other
documents that have been promulgated
in Utah within the past three months.
Why was there any need to hold secret
session until past midnight to find out
the occasion and intent of a mere "whim"
of the City Marshal's? The placing of
the flag at half-mast was a very bad
break and one whose impolicy was soon
seen. and a salYe. in the shape OF a re-