The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1886-04-25
WHY WE ARE GLAD.

The New York Mail and Express ap-
pears to bitterly regret the removal OF
Eli Murray from the governorship
Utah, and reproves THE HERALD for
rejoicing over his removal from office.
THE HERALD does rejoice in the political
death OF Eli H Murray, and the Mail
aud Express may make the most of it;
but our rejoicing is not prompted by
any personal vindictiveness towards
him; but because his unwarranted acts
of petty tyranny have met with fitting
rebuke which is only faulty in that it
has been too long delayed. A man ap-
pointed by great government to act as
q governor of one OF its Territories. who
will be hand and glove with her relent-
less enemies, and will lend the influence
of his position to arouse popular
prejudice and hatred against her people
is unworthy TO be the representative of
that government. That Eli H. Murray
did that il witnessed byihis official mes
sages, his contributions to the press
and his public addresses. There is
long list of wrongs that he is guilty of
In the course of his six years Of Office
holding in Utah; wrongs not only
against the people of Utah, but acts
that violate well recognized principles
of our political faith.
He sought to defeat the will of the
people, as expressed by the ballot-box.
by giving a man not elected the certif-
cate of election, and sent him to Con-
gress to represent the people.
DE endeayored. without authority of
law, to displace the officers of the Ter
ritory elected by the people, and fill
their places with men of his own ap-
pointing. We do not mean the Terri
torial Treasurer, Auditor, and SuperIn-
tendent of District Schools, but we
mean his wholesale attempt under IL at
special piece OF legislation known as the
Hoar amendment.
He sought to stay the progress OF
education by Withholding his signature
from the bill making an appropriation
for the erection Of university, at the
same time accusing the people Of Utah
with lack of interest in educational
matters.
He withheld his signature from bills
providing for the filling of registration
and election offices under, the local
laws; and though these bills were in
conformity to the Edmunds law and
other acts of Congress, he vetoed them
which continued the Utah Commission
in Office, not only to the annoyance of
the people of Utah, but at great ex-
pense to the government
His message to the late Legislature
virtually held over that body the
threat that if it did not pass laws in
conformity to his suggestions, he
would refuse to sanction the enact
ments they might pass, thus seeking to
eoeree legislative body elected by the
people.
He misrepresented the state of pop
ular sentiment in this Territory, and by
50 doing made the President believe
there was need Of increasing the mill
tary here, and by reason OF that mis-
representation a company of troops was
quartered in our chief city.
He called on the military to assist in
the execution of civil process in the case
of the arrest of George Q. Cannon when
there was nothing to justify him in be-
hevIng there was any necessity for so
doing, nor do We believe he thought
there was any need of calling upon the
military. His acquaintance with the
disposition of the people would teach
him better. 1t was an act of a petty
tyraRt making a display OF his sup
posed power, to add consequence to his
position, and awaken and intensity the
popular sentiment against the people of
this Territory.
Because there is a bitter pre-
iudice against the predominant
church here, he considered that the pub.
lie sentiment would sustain him in any
outrage he might commit against the
liberties of the people of Utah, and the
President, afraid of that sentiment
would not dare to rebuke him. He
fondly thought, instructed as he was be-
hind this public sentiment, that Utah
was at his imperious and autocratic feet.
In the pride of his heart he refused to
sign the general appropriation bill IN
less the body legislative would accede TO
his wishes. They withstood with manly
hrmness his imperious demands The
appropriation bill was not signed, aud
there are no funds with which to defray
the expenses of the territorial govern
ment. Eli n. Murray would have VIII
ingly seen all the wheels Of the Territor-