Salt Lake evening Democrat. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1885-1887, 1886-02-01
THE DENoUEMENT.

ating genuine sensation in official and
private circles by his report and interview
with Commissioner Sparks. He is no
longer looked upon as the wise man OF
the East that he was after his speech on
Jackson's Day. We think General De-
ment will find that ii there were no party
lines in Utah, there certainly are party
lashes. We cannot but confess that we
enjoy the CONSERVATION that General De-
ment has spread all around. 1t cannot
be said that ON this dark and rainy morn
ing all is peace on earth and goodwill
towards man in the official camp of
Utah. But the Federal officials who are
surprised at General Dement'S report
must remember that there are no party
lines in Utah, and that all who would
wish to create party divisions here must
be looked upon as not grasping the situ-
alton. These things must be borne in
mind to understand this report.
Now to the gist of that report. Ac-
cording to the kilograms which have
been received here concerning General
Dement'S report, he makes some very
sweeping and severe charges, charges
that, If true, will bring most serious con-
sequences to various officials of Utah.
General Dement, makes these charges,
and it must be presumed that he bases
them upon evidence in his possession.
The question is whether the evid-
ence he possesses will sustain the
charges he makes. We are free
20 confess that General Dement,
makes far more sweeping charges
than we have ever thought could be
made about the officials in Utah with
any foundation, but rs we have always
been accused of not grasping the situ-
alton in Utah, of course we are not pre-
pared to express an opinion on the
charges which General Dement, makes.
And then again, the patriot powers that
be in Utah have ever lauded the reports
which the various officials have made to
their immediate superiors in Washington,
and so long have we listened to these
laudations that we have learned to look
upon all reports made by Federal officials
US being the productions of statesmen.
If Commission or Governor can make
a report to the Department OF the Inte-
rior which is all that Jefferson, IA Ham
ilton or Madison could make, why may
not Surveyof-Ge produce similar
document? The Republican Tribune of
this city says that there would be
nothing in it all If there was cool
headed, practical man at the head OF the
Land Department in Washington. But
according to all accounts the Commits
sioner in Washington is fanatically hon
est, educated impractical fool, and worked
upon by an impractical egotist who is de-
termined to make sensation, no matter
at what or whose expense" That is al
most as serious as any charge General
Dement, makes, but the General does
not charge any Republican with being
"fanatically honest" Perhaps he has
no evidence to that effect. Now why
should not Commissioner Sparks put as
much credence in the report OF the Sur
veyor-General rs the Secretary of the In
terror puts in the reports which he re-
ceives from different officials in Utah ?
We believe there is just as much
foundation for any charge that Gen
eral Dement, makes as the charge
that Governor Murray is reported to have
make in regard to bodies OF armed men
coming into this city the Sunday night
succeeding the Collin-McMurrin shoot
ing affair. In either case the foundation
for the charge may have been a definite
hope and vague perhaps.
Whether there is something or nothing
in the charges General Dement, is re-
ported to have made, he has succeeded
in getting himself into hot water, and
his report may bring about Congress
sional investigation into Federal affairs
in Utah. 1t is likely that the Repub-
lican Federal officials against whom
these charges are brought will ask such
an investigation. If they are guilty they
should be punished for their guilt, but ii
they are innocent they are entitled to q
complete and public investigation. The
Federal officials of Utah have not
been the greatest and best men that
could have been found, nor have they
been entitled to the adulation which
many have given them, but they have
not been the worst men that could have
been found. They have been an average
lot, and their prominence before the
nation has been owing TO the condition
OF affairs in Utah and not to their supe-
rior worth.