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

The advent OF a new year is always
time for revery and conjecture, for hope
despair. What will the future bring
forth? Is there in the unknown future
day filed with hope and sunshine for
Utah? Or are the days which are to
come, dark and dreary, being laden
with strife and turmoil, hatred and pas
sion2 The unfolding OF the future alone
can tell these things.
The year which has just closed has
been an eventful one in Utah. The year
which has Just closed has been year OF
dullness and depression in business, but
the new year brings brighter prospects
for business and material prosperity; and
this is well. But what OF the Utah
question, the question which is ever
present and ever foremost in the
minds of the people OF Utah? During
the year which has just closed much has
been done to vindicatc the national laws
against polygamy, and they have been
vindicated and enforced as they never
were before. This vindication and en-
forcement will continue throughout the
ensuing year, but when the year which is
now beginning shall be counted among
the years which are passed never
to return, will our Utah problem
be nearer its solution than
now? In the settlement of any impor-
tant question there will necessarily and
unavoidably be much ill-feeling and hat
red engendered. The ill-feeling, and the
passion and the prejudice, which to-day
exists between Mormons and non-Mor-
mons is most appalling and dscouraging.
1t may almost be said that the Mormon
and the non-Mormon look upon
each other in the light of
open and avowed enemies. In
any criminal proceeding against either
Mormon or non-Mormon, where the
proceeding is connected in the slightest
degree with the local question, an impair
tial jury cannot be found in Utah. This
may be putting the case in strong Ian
guage, but we believe that this opinion
is gaining ground with all classes each
day. Where is the remedy for such a
deplorable state OF things? We are
forced to think that the remedy for this
state of things is hidden under the trees
which bear the golden apples which grow
in the Hesperides. But where is the
Hercules who shall bring it hence?
The prospects for the year 1886 are
that the feeling between the two parties
in Utah will be more bitter than in 1885,
and this is so because the feeling which
prosecutions for unlawful cohabitation
will go on, unless the people of Utah
choose to come within the law. Whether
they will or not no one predicts. Po-
lygamy is the main issue in Utah, and the
other issues which vex the peace
and retard the prosperity of the
Territory are but outgrowths OF this main
one. To suppress polygamy and unlaw-
full cohabitation will necessarily cause
many handships and bring distress and
sorrow upon many families, but ii the
Government shall desist in its enforce
ment OF the law it will be but surrender
OF the sovereignty OF the law to the vio-
lators OF it. This the Government cannot
and will not do. The people OF Utah
seem more disinclined than ever to vol
unfairly render obedience to the law, and
the consequence OF this disnclination can
only be to make the final settlement OF
the Utah question harder for them. ii
they would but throw themselves upon
the mercy OF the General Government
they might be sure Of receiving the con-
sideration and clemency they would there
by ask. The people OF Utah would do well
to remember that the Federal officials in
Utah are not the Government, and that
II they doubt the desire OF the local
Federal officials to see peace and happi-
ness reign in Utah, they have no reason
in the world to doubt the keen and ardent
desire OF the Government at Washington
to see this Utah problem quickly, equit-
ably and peacefully settled. II they
would but act for themselves and follow
the dictates OF their own hearts and rea-
son, they would seek at Washington u
speedy and satisfactory solution OF the
Utah question. "Seek, and ye shall
find. Knock, and it shall be opened
unto you. Ask, and ye shall receive"