The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1886-10-21
LET IT NOT BE DONE.

In concluding what he has 70 say in
his report to the Secretary OF the In
terror, about keeping strong garrison
of regular troops in this Territory to
act as if they were the militia of the
Territory, to preserve order and en-.
force the law in case of an emergency,
Governor West says: THE exhibition
of the strength of the arms of power,
will often obyiate the necessity of its
use" Perhaps that may be true in
some cases, but with a people highly
sensitive of their rights, and who hate
the very appearance of intimidation
the presence and parading sof
troops in their midst is csIcu-
lated ratheF to exasperate their
feelings, and in their desperation
provoke them to acts of violence rather
than to intimidate them to slavish sub
mission through fear; for men had
better be dead than to live under such
conditions. A law enacted which would
place strong garrison of troops at the
disposal of the Governor. with IAN
understanding that .Sc,, &c zelI nun
to preserve law and order would in
crease the alnasss unbearabIe insolsnnn
Of the adYenturers who ht.ssve-drifted in.
to cur Territory, and who would use
their best endeayofs to provoke
a conflict that they might reyel
in the spoils. These men have
marked the mistortunes of Utah's peo-
pie as the means with which to
build their fortunes, and if such ar
engagements as Governor West recon-
mends are adopted it viii be strange in
deed if their wicked invention does not
devise some means to harass and be-
devil the people beyond that point
where human nat ure can bear no more,
and where, regardless of wreck and
ruin and slaughter that might follow,
men would strike down their cowardly
tormentors.
We believe Governor Westfeels kindly
disposed towards the people of Utah.
and in this very feature under discus
sioa hopes that it will operate in such .
manner as to quell any likelihood of a
resort to violence on the part
of the people. There need be no
fears entertained that the Mormon
people will resist the enforcement of
the laws of Congress by armed resist
ance:: While they may contest every
inch of ground sought to be infringed
upon unconstitutionally as they believe
by the general government, still their
methods will be lawful and without re-
sort to armed violence, Te fight the
government is notstheir calling. They
have no disposition to invite destruc-
ton. Yet TO garrison body of troops
In their midst as a menace to them, and
the encouragement of the presence OF
this military force would give to the
avowed enemies of the people to
increase their ,insolence,' would be
most likely to provoke the very con-
hict the Governor, we believe, is anxious
to avoid.
Governor West bears witness to the
truth that there has been no physical
resistance offered to the. execution Of
the laws, infamous as the people be-
heve them to be in themselves, and ther
administered with a cruel vindictive-
ness unworthy a court Of justice. The
language of the Governor is:
al know of no armed organization fol-
the purpose of opposing the lawful au
thorities, or resisting the enforce
ment OF the laws, nor do 1 believe any
such now exists. The process oil
the courts is met with no physica
resistance, and society is peaceable.
Then let no recommendation be made
that will tend to disturb this creditablC
state of affairs. The people of Utah
who in all the years of the past have
been peaceable, and among whom the
life AMI property of their bitterest
enemies have been safe, while those
same enemies have been plotting and
scheming against the best interests o.
society in this Territory, may still be
trusted to preserve peace and good or
der. While the possibility-howeVer re
mote it may be-of so far Outraging
every feeling of humanity and decency
as to bring upon the villsinous few whose
aim is to prosper upon the misfortune
OF the N ormOn people, condign punish
ment will have sslutary effect uper
them.