Salt Lake evening Democrat. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1885-1887, 1885-03-24
THE COMMISSION CASES.

At last much vexed and much agi-
tated question in Utah has been decided,
which question was whether the Com
missioners under the Edmunds law had
the power to prescribe test oath. 1t
has been decided they had, and that
suits brought for refusal to allow per-
son to register, must be against the regis
trars, and not against the Commissioners.
This is but an old doctrine declared anew,
and the bringing Of suits is of minor i'm
portance compared with the general re-
suit of the disfranchisement of so many
voters. 1t is proper to ask why the Com
missioners did not retain the first test oath
which they Formulated and promulgated ?
Was it too sweeping and didittake in many
who are not now included by the election
oath? The law was right, but the dis
elimination was wrong; and yet it was a
discrimination that could only be con-
trolled by the discretion of those to whom
the power was given. But should not
that discretion have been used in the in
terest of all morality, and not partial
morality alone?
The decision is very strong in its CEN
tralizing tendency, the thing which is
most to be regretted about the whole
affair 1t would be interesting to know
on what grounds Mr.. Justice Field dis
sented.. for he is the decentralizing ele-
ment Of the Supreme Court.
The legal aspect OF the case having
been decided, it will be necessary to let
time decide what will be the political re-
suit. Will any of the disfranchised ask
for the benefits of the Edmund's law, and
purge themselves of their political dis
abilities? But these disabilities are no
longer in doubt, and relief from them can
only be had one way, namely, compli-
ance with the law, andSaspetition to the
President, accompanied with satisfactory
evidence, asking pardon, which will be
readily granted no doubt, and the par
don removes the disabilities and reinstates
those to whom granted in their political
rights. 1t is also certain, at least most
probable, that compliance with the law
and the granting of pardon which follows,
if once begun by any one of those who
are now under the ban of political dis
ability would be the beginning of the end,
the end which has been SO long sought
True, many families will be disrupted,
and many hearts will ache and many
lives will be stranded. But is it not bet
ter to do that now than in distant future
when more will suffer? Let it be we'll
considered by all who are now under dis
abilities and by those who are advocating
the taking of them. They are easier to
put on than off.
GENERAL GRANTS love for his only
daughter, who has but recently arrived,
is most touching, and her presence will
help to smooth the pillow of death, for
that is what all are now looking for. The
arrival of Mrs. Sartoris recalls an Incl
dent We heard gentleman once relate of
het, and shows her woman and worthy
of her father
An American from Utah was travelling
in England, and being of an ingenious
and sincere nature he deemed all Ameri-
cans brothers, and was glad to
see them in foreign lands. To
them his all was free, and he
presumed that all were glad to see him,
and would gladly extend the hand he
always offered. Happening in the
county in which Mrs. Sartoris resided,
he announced his intention to his friend
of going to see her. His friend asked
him if he had ever met the lady, and he
replied "No; but she is an American
girl, and daughter of General Grant,
and she will be glad to see me-" 1t was
as he said, and he was welcomed as
heartily as though he had been a noted
man and an intimate friend of her father
1t showed a beautiful character ana a
warm, generous heart in an American girl
whose father is more famous than a
crowned head.