Salt Lake evening Democrat. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1885-1887, 1885-06-26
PECUNIARY CONSIDERATION.

here and there and lays its hand upon
some one, the cry is raised that business
is being depressed, and that the depression
is being felt by the Gentle merchants as
well as by the Mormon merchants. Busi-
ness depression will always be felt by all
who are engaged in business, without
reference to the color of their politics
or of their religion Business is quite
dull in Utah, but is it not too much to
say that it is so because the Federal Of
ficials are trying to enforce the laws here
and that enforcement affects quite nu-
merous class? Is the present depression
in business in Utah owing to the enforce
ment of the United States laws or to a
natural law of trade which always brings
dull times when there has been an over
production of all kinds of goods and wares
while there has not been corresponding
increase of demand? The laws of the
United States against polygamy are In
operation in Utah, but the law of over
production which always causes less
activity in the market than when there
is a brisk demand for all the articles
of commerce and the supply is
limited and cannot overtake the
demand, is in operation throughout
the entire country and very largely
throughout Europe. Are the consequen-
ces of abnormal supply and normal de-
mand, which are business inactivity,
owing to United States law or owing to
a natural law of trade? Rather is it not
that business depression in Utah as we'll
as elsewhere is owing more to plethora
than to polygamy? Let it be granted
that the prosecutions for violations of the
laws against polygamy and unlawful CO.
habitation have a tendency to injure
business interests and that failure will
soon come to many merchants, both
Mormon and Gentle, is that any reason
why law, and a valid law, one that
all Christian people, save about
two hundred thousand, believe to
be in the interest of morality and
modern civiliza ton, should not be en-
forced? The eXperinece of the world here
tofore has been that business and COM
merce, whether upon land or sea, have
been best fostered and encouraged where
the law has been supreme and obedience
TO its mandates constantly and willingly
rendered. 1t is a new departure in laws,
morals and ethics to say that the enforce
ment OF the law is detrimental to trade
and commerce. If the compelling of
obedience to law works harm to busi-
ness or other interests, the law itself
must be harmful, and relief from it's bale
full effects should be sought for in its
repeal, not in opposing it. Ii violations
of the law, no matter what law, have be-
came so numerous and frequent that
business suffers unless lawlesSness con-
tinue, which should suffer, the law or
the business? Which is of most import
ance to the people when organized into
government, the rules and regulations of
their government, or the pecuniary inter
ests of the merchants?
In Utah has it been definitely deter
mined beyond the point of controversy
that the injury TO business in this Terri
tory, not taking into consideration the
universal business depression which pre-
walls, is owing to the endeavors of the
officials to enforce the laws or TO the per-
sistent breaking of the laws by large
class under the sanction of a religious
conviction? 1t is an important question
to which enough attention has not been
given. In it lies the secret of the whole
situation here in Utah. A bad condition
of affairs exists here, but what is the
cause, the law or the violation and eva
sion of the law? Should pecuniary
consideration outweigh all other consid-
erations? Should it be incidental or
principal? All agree that the present
condition of things in Utah is detri-
mental to all interests, and that there
should be change, and settlement of
matters for once and for all. This can
only be brought about in two ways: the
undisturbed continuance of polygamv, or
the discontlnuance of polygamy. In
either case surrender is involved. Who
will make it? That is the issue, and il
must be met; to postpone the time of
meeting that issue is to enlarge the issue
and make it more difficult 1t will have
to be met, no matter what the decision.
Will another time be more opportune
than the present? viii business be less
disturbed in the future than at the pres
ent time? On the contrary business in
terests will be greater in the future than
now, and the disturbance of those inter
ests then will necessarily be greater than
now In all states and governments
there must be some supreme power and
authority to regulate and control matters
of common concern. 1t must be so in
Utah as well as elsewhere. This power
and authority are the people organized
into society, either upon a temporal or
spiritual basis; organized on both bases
and claiming the same power and author
ity they are inharmonious, and when they
seek to exert that power and authority
they come into conflict. One must be
supreme; it is impossible for it to be
otherwise. 1t is the same thing that was
said long ago: "Ye cannot serve two
masters" That is the situation in Utah
to-day. This is the problem to be solved:
who shall be master law or religion?
The dominant church says it will be |