Salt Lake evening Democrat. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1885-1887, 1885-09-10
WHAT WILL HE DO?

his message? It is six months since the
new Administration came in, and in that
time much has been done to correct that
which was wrong, to straighten that
which was crooked IN Government affairs.
For six months the President has been
a constant surprise to- all, to friends
and to foes, to Democrats and to Re-
publicans He has been surprise
because he has been straightforward,
honest and sincere To him political
pledge has been as sacred as a personal
pledge. He has ever acted on the theory,
the true theory, that the Democratic
Platform upon which he was elected was
an enunciation of Democratic principles,
and that they were to be honestly and
effectively put into practice, because they,
of all political principles, were the best
calculated to further the welfare of the
people as citizens and the welfare of the
people as the Government. Too frequently
political platforms have been but as a
thinking cymbal and sounding brass" a
something for display and eulogy, but not
for everyday use. 1t is this practice OF
parties in saying one thing and doing
another that has brought politics into
disrepute and has given rise to the say
ing 80 frequently heard that there is no
difference between one political party and
another; and there has been very much
truth in the remark, too. The people
have seen enough of the President now
to form a fair opinion concerning him,
and they know that his loyalty to the
law, no matter what interests may be at
stake nor by whom they may be fostered,
is such that naught viii swerve him in it.
In view OF all these facts, knowing the
character of the man who is the Chief
Executive OF the Government, the people
of Utah, of all clases, are wondering what
the President will do concerning Utah.
All clearly see that go far as any law or
laws now upon the statute book affecting
Utah are concerned they will be enforced,
and enforced stringently If any doubt
this, it is only necessary to refer TO the
case OF the cattlemen in Indian Territory
and the very recent case of ordering
troops to Rock Springs and other points
in Wyoming to protect the Cinnamon.
Certain it is that as far as the anti-polyg-
amy laws are concerned, no recommend
alton for their modification in the sense
of making them less effective than they
now are, will be made; but will any rec
concentrations for supplementary legisla-
ton on the same matter be made? The
Utah question as a social question is the
only one which now agitates the country,
the negro question in the South having
settled down TO an acquiescence on the
part of the whites and the blacks in the
result of the war, and is adjusting itself
in accordance with natural laws. But
such is not the case with the Utah ques-
ton, and Utah is as a seething cauldron.
The people of Utah who live away from
the chief centers OF population Of the
Territory are an isolated people, isolated
physically, isolated mentally and in
tellectually from the world; their
hopes concerning the present condition
things in Utah are hopes for divine and
miraculous delverance: their thoughts
are the thoughts OF religious fanatics
whose vision is clouded by day-dreams OF
q distant world far beyond the realms Of
the stars AS the day of rest rolls round,
they ara told of the happiness which
awaits them in that unknown world il
they are but faithful in this; they are
also told of the oppression Of this Govern
ment, and how it all has to be since il
was foretold of old time. These things
must he considered by those who would
fully understand the Utah question. No
doubt there are many men within the
Mormon church whose thoughts are not
always so transcendental as those OF
whom we have but spoken; but it
should also be remembered that the most
insincere and hypocritical men are often
the most superstitious OF men. That
those who have violated the law can
be punished, has been fully dem
onstrated. for many have been found
guilty and punished, while many more
have put themselves in hiding or have
crossed the sea TO foreign lands. But
what of that state of mind which predis-
poses men to violate the law? That, after
all, is the main question. That there is a
growing conviction among the masses of
the Mormon people that there are two
sides to the problem OF which they have
only seen one heretofore, we are convinc-
ed Likewise, we are convinced that the
men who do most of the preaching to the
people are urging the doctrine of poly
gamy and its practice as it was never
urged before, at least not since the days
of the Reformation in Utah; hut we do
not believe that the preachers are meet
ing with that success which they so ar
IDENTIFY desire. This urgent preaching in
favor of polygamy is chiefly done in the
outer settlements, those settlements
which are freest from the influence that
is adverse to the rule OF the church in
Utah. Such, in part, is the situation in
Utah, although we may add, which
almost seems needless, that the control
OF the church over its members is nearly
absolute; and in view Of all these facts,
what recommendations will the President
make to Congress concerning Utah? Per-
haps no President has ever been SO fully
acquainted with the actual condition of
affairs here as Mr.. Cleveland, and he is
very solicitous that things here may be