The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1886-07-10
FOR THE CONSIDERATION o.
DEMOCRATS

- AILer QcFOtAfk H. - - F-~|-' go -
= the Endorsement OF President Cleve
lands administration. the Iowa Demo
3 erats saw their platform: THE nobl
2 and manly efforts of Gladstone in be
I half of representative government 70
= Ireland commands our unqualified az
!. prevail"
We like that; because every n bl
cause such as the one in which the grea
English premier is now engaged, shoulC
receive the moral support of the Who'll,
world.
But while we rejoice TO see Gladstone
supported in his brave effort to secure
home rule for distressed Ireland, there
are other considerations to which we
would draw the attention of Democrats,
not only of Iowa, but of
other States; considerations, toe,
that more nearly conceive the
Democrats in the United States than
the Irish home rule question, because it
comes nearer home. Some Democrats
might be angrily surprised if We were
to say that The United States lad It's
Ireland. Never the less it would be
substantially tru. The United States
mas NUMBER of Colonies or Territories
where local self government is but q
shadow, and in Utah it has been so re-
duced that it can scarcely be called the
sh dow of q shade; and even that is
| threatened with humiliation.
In TACT, local self government, so far
as Utah is concerned, is a myth;
it does not exist. Though
the people of this much
afflicted Territory are capable of gov
erning themselves, and are anxious to
assume the responsibility and are will
ing to adopt a constitution insuring a
republican form of government, still
the nation uDjustly withholds that right
of home rule from them. The with
holding of home rule from Utah or any
other community with distinct local
interest. is Withholding everything
looking towards the peace and hapDi-
ness of the community, and honest |
government in the administration of its
affairs.
Not satisfied with denying local self
government to Utah, the national Con.
gress has declared itself empowered to |
legislate for Utah in all cases whatso-
ever; and at this time the general gov
eminent is prectlcing coercion here
in the enforcement of infamous laws
destructive of the time honored
social institutions of the Terri
founded here be.
lore the laws OF the United
StaRs were extended over this part of ,
he land; and even when the laws of 1
he United States were extended over :
his Territory, there was nothing in l
hose laws which in any man
Ter interfered with the social '
Institutions held sacred by the '
in these mountains; ,
lor was there until the passage of the
law of 1S62-fourteen
7ears after the extension of the laws of
he United States over that territory
acquired from Mexico, of which Utah is
part.
All this is manifestly unjust and OPP
'ressive. And Democrats anxious for
he extension of the true principles Of
Democracy will say: The Withholding
# Statehood-which is the only form of
ZONE rule worthy of the name-from
he Territories that are capsbIet
II assuming its responsibilities
nd are willing to do so, was b
lever contemplated IN our system s
Il government. is un-American in its 7
haracter, is utterly at variance with n
he time-honored practice of this great c
ePublic; it is unjust to the American
itizens living in the Territories. and
ubyersive of the fundamental prin- C
iples upon which our system of govern
len: i. based, and should no longer be
lowed. II
And furthermore-to seek by means c
coercion that would shame J
he most extreme English Tory q
dealing with Ireland, to break q
p the social institutions of a popuIous z
nd prosperous Territory, which are 4 I
ED religiousIy sacred by the over
helming majority of the people thereof.
deny Territory sdmission into the
Mon because Of the peculiar religious s
18th OF its people, when the spirit and =
e.letter of our Constitution say that b,
religious test shall be required to in Of
Ire to the citizen the rights and privil p
les of his citizenship, or to admit him <
the honors and emoluments of Office. OF
unworthy of this great republic, and F
all be practiced no longer with our ~
nsent.
INSIrE TING TILE GIN