Salt Lake evening Democrat. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1885-1887, 1885-03-28
PARALLELS AND COMPARISONS

Comparisons are odious, said DR.. John
son; and Dr. Johnson was right Like
wise parallels are odious, as they bring
into prominence the shortcomings and
failures OF both parties. This was done
by the NewS last evening in manner the
Necs alone can do thing. That this ar.
ticle is sincere none will doubt that the
article is two edged sword will not be
questioned. That our governors have
been men of mediocrity as rule is but
too true; that the members OF the Legis-
lature have been men of marked medioc-
rity is eminently and sorrowfully true.
Governors have refused their assent to
laws the most wholesome, but has not
our Legislature refused to pass laws that
the common decency of half civilized
people have insisted upon 1t is true, and
it is wrong, that the Governor is given an
absolute veto over any measure that the
Legislature may deem it well to pass. 1t
is also true and likewise wrong, that the
ecclesiastical power of the Peoples Party
does dictate and control the introduction
and passage of all bills of whatsoever ma
tnre in the Legislature OF Utah Territory.
The General Government has taken
away the elective franchise from a large
number OF our citizens, but have not a
few, and very few, of the citizens who
are the leaders of the Peoples Party al
ways directed and used this inestimablC
privilege, this elective franchise? Did
the Constitutional Convention which has
been so long in labor include in its
Bill of Rights the elective franchise? Did
that august body do anything save adopt
the Constitution of the United States. and
declare that the Constitution OF the State
OF Deseret should be the basis of their
work? But we were about to forget that
they did do some other things, among
which they refused to submit to the vote
of the people the proposition whether
the proposed Constitution should or
should not contain a guaranty of the
right to have the polygamic system in
Utah. Upon what grounds was this re-
fusal based? Upon the grounds that "we
don't want the people to put themselves
on record. And this a free people,
whose shouts for liberty rend high
heaven! The! reply was fit for Satan
when he led away one-third of heavens
host. And the Convention was to give
TO Utah freedom; in fact religious
freedom was peculiarly its ward, so much
so that the members of the Convention
held a secret caucus in the private Office
OF the President of Lthe Church of Jesus
Christ OF Later-day Saints, and to which
some three members were uninvited,
they not being "of us"
Too many of the Federal officers have
sought, and probably will seek, !, to veto
many bills that would have been of ben
eft to the community, and possibly of
more benefit to Mormons than to Gen
tiles. But has not the Legislature re-
fused in many instances to pass bills
merely because the measures were. rec
commended in the Governors message?
The Governor OF the Territory has thought
it was the sole duty Of the Legislature to
carry out his recommendations and when
it has not, he has shouted treason, called
for commissions with absolute powers,
and written about the flag rending itself
loose from. the staff because of the insult
offered to the Nation through him when
the Legislature refused to do his bidding,
The true cause Of the fall of the flag that
memorable day was an old rope
and a strong wind; that simply,
that only. But have the leg
islators OF Utah, elected by the people
of Utah. been more considerate of pop
ular rights? To do the bidding Of their
church has been their sole, aim, and if
in any way they have furthered the in
terests Of their constituents, it has been
incidental and not Intentional Tie Gov
ernor and the Legislature have been hos
tile the one TO the other; each has cham
pioned party, parties whose principles
have simply been anti-Mormon" and pre-
Mormon, and these principles have de-
cided all questions of all kinds. The er-
rors and blunders Of the Governor have
been egregious and numberless, but no
one man, not evena governor, can COM
nit SO many errorsl and of so great
variety as thirty-six legislators.
On the pages of the statutes of Utah
there stands no law against. adultery, in
cest or crimes against the marriage tie.
These laws the Governor has repeatedly
and the legislators. have
as repeatedly refused to enact ssSurely the
blame here rests not with the Ex-Governor.
In proceedings for divorce adultery is a
ground upon which, it may be granted; in
the catalogue Of crimes, adultery is not
iound. Upon whom rests the odium
here? In Utah there are no prohibited
degrees within which the marriage rela-
ion may not be formed. Is this the
Governors fault? The Legislature of
Utah adopted California code, in which
l criminal is not allowed bail after con-
7iction, and the Governor signed it; but
he Governor did not ask its adoption.
The law is harsh, but the peoples law
makers made it so.
No, the Governor and the Legislature
hould remember that they are but parts
II a whole, and ought to try and work in
harmony and not in hostility. Let legis-
alton be enacted upon a broader princi- I