The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1886-05-05

Hon. Caleb w. West, the new Gov
ernor of Utah, will enter the Territory
and upon his duties to-day. He comes
TO rs highly recommended, his ability,
integrity and general character being
vouched for by some of the most
prominent and best men OF tie nation.
1t is hardly necessary TO say that the
people of Utah extend to him a warm
and hearty welcome. They have suf-
fered and endured six years of Murray
hence the joyousness with which they
hail the change. Governor West has
come direct from the national capital,
and is fresh from consultation with the
President and members of the Cabinet
in regard to his new duties. The course
which he pursues may be expected to
be in harmony with the policy of the
national administration. Latterly we
have been told on several occasions
what that policy is; that it is the strict
enforcement of the law, and nothing
more. But the enforcement must
be fair, and in spirit of
Justice TO all. The President is repre-
scented as saying that while he wanted
the laws applied vigorously, and with
the determination that they be obeyed,
or violated at the peril of individuals,
he desired that none of the elements Of
persecution be employed; he does not |
want the Mormons TO have the right, as
in the past, to charge that they are being |
unfairly treated and prosecuted by the |
Administration. We are going to be- |
Iieve that Governor West brings with |
him the ideas and sentiments of the
President in the matter of the govern
ment of Utah. and so believing. we &C
cent his coming as marking a new era in
the affairs of the Territory. No true
friend of Utah Will ask Governor West |
to be or do otherwise than right, and all |
good citizens ask and expect that he |
will do his duty honestly, faithfully |
fearlesslv and fairly. There are two
classes of citizens here, between /
whom the lines are very sharply drawn:
but in his official duties we do not ex-
pect the Governor will take cognizance |
of this fact. There are Mormons and |
Gentiles, and both have equal rights be-
fore the law; it is this latter fact that |
We e2 pect the Governor will recognize. |
In plain words, Mr.. West has been |
made Governor of Utah Territory, and |
We expect he will be the chief executive |
of all the people, officially knowing no
difference between persons who obey |
and uphold the law; and not a Gov |
ernor casting all the weight of his Off
cial power and influence on the side of
faction in its warfare against the !
masses.
1t might as well be stated that Gov
ernor West is not coming to q |
bed Of roses. If he shall AVOID |
criticism. censure and abuse, he
viii achieve wonders. and do
much more than any of his pr6 decessors
has done; but it is possible to escape
merited opprobrium, and avoid unjust
reproach. and we believe he comes fully |
determined to pursue the course that |
will do most towards disarming the
good and the just Of any cause for COM
plant. He can do this by performing |
his plainly defined duties faithfully, |
fairly and in a spirit ef justice, without |
bias and free from official psrtisanship.
We extend to the Governor a sincere
welcome, and hope that only good
words VIII be said Of the administration |
upon which he is about to enter.