Salt Lake evening Democrat. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1885-1887, 1885-04-16
THE SOLUTION OF THE PROBLEM.

Utah would do in the matter of submit
ting to the authority of the law, and 81
far all has been conjecture. But thing;
are assuming a shape they were never III
before in this Territory, and they have
came to their present shape from a con-
tinued and persistent effort to enforce
the laws as they are, without calling for
more legislation and telling Congress
how impossible it was to do anything
here without extraordinary powers. The
great trouble was that many of our judges
and prosecuting attorneys have cared more
for big hurrah than the law, and after
one or two weak, mewling, puking efforts
to do something or nothing, it being i'm
possible to determine which it was, they
have quit, and from their imbecility as
much as from anything else, disrespect foi
the law has sprung up, and these efforts
have but made bad matters worse. And
to add 10 the complications in which we
are in this Territory too many of the
judges have been thought to be preju-
diced against the laws of the Territorial
Legislature, because the Legislature was
composed of Mormons. And rulings of
some of our judges have justified the
suspicion, and have brought merited re-
proach upon the judiciary. 1t had al
most come to be legal maxim that the
laws of the Territory were invalid, and
that any violation of local law would
be upheld. Many had come to look upon
the trials at law here, no matter what
the cause, as a contest between Gentiles
and Mormons, in which the merit of the
case had but small weight. Hatred and
bitterness have prompted too many eff
forts to enforce the laws by some and
because various classes were religiously
and politically opposed to each
other, and violations of the law
have been execrated more on account of
the violators than on account of respect
for the law. But the worst is yet to
come. 1t has been an almost universal
belief that many officials have not been
above corruption, and there have been
numerous cases which might be cited as
a justification for this belief. The law in
these cases has been the instrument for
furthering the interests of class, and
not the interests of law and order. These
references are not to what NAV
be termed the politico-religious trials,
but to trials in which the cities
or counties have been interested as well
as in suits in which vast mining interests
have been at stake. And we have per-
sonally known of some cases in which
both plaintiff and defendant have waited
and let their case pass from term to term,
hoping that new appointments might be
made.
This is the condition in which we have
been in Utah, and is it to be wondered at
that the situation of affairs has not been
so satisfactory as could be wished? We
believe that we have now entered upon
a new and better era in Utah,
and whatever may be the merits or
dement's of Chief Justice Zane he
has the respect of all classes so far as his
honesty and integrity are concerned, and
honesty and integrity in the courts are
the first great requisites for engendering
respect for the law. Judge Zane has seen
his duty in the enforcement of all laws as
essential to the preservation of society.
Having done so, he has engepdered a
eeling of respect for law and order, and
he people are beginning to recognize
hat the law, without reference to any
my particular law, or statute, is some
hing more that the chickering's of
parties. BY acting on this theory of the
of all laws-and to act on
my other theory is to act on false one
Judge Zane has done more to bring about
solution of the Utah problem than all
lis predecessors; and to-day those who
AVE broken the anti-polygamy law and
hurled defiance in the face of the govern
nent are not so proud and naughty as
hey have been, and they are finding that
ne community gets along very well with
ut some of them and that they miss
1ore than they are missed. But more
han this, many are beginning to see that
lere is no slackening in the prosecutions
nd to believe that there will be none.
nd already they moot the question, what
going to be done? and as they moot
lat question, they think that perhaps it I
better to obey the laws of the land and !
lat in the hereafter God will forgive
lem if they sin in so doing. So near is
he downfall of the polygamic system in +
tab that for the government to pause
ow would be cruelty to the people who
ractice that system as it would give
lem renewed hope and would but '
lake more sorrow when the final down I
IL shall come. Why do we think that :
lis downfall is so near? Because the q
an nor the people never lived who a
ould run and would not surrender; and
r the reason that Erasmus gave, that he 7
we'd life more than truth. 1t is said O
lat poets are born and not made; so it S
ay be said that martyrs are born and Il
0t made. y !
But it may be asked, what will those il
ives do who have been compelled to s.
parate from their husbands? We be- o
we that the great majority of them will y y
marry, and be happier in their new life c;
an in their old one. This idea will be fr
offed at now, but that idea viii prevail, Il
r human nature is stronger than religion s'