The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1889-05-31
DON'T DO 1T.

Another exchange attempts to revive the
ancient proposition that Utah be annexed
to Nevada. All the stale and unconYnclng
arguments are repeated. The country IS
informed again that Nevada is decaylng
state; that its population is steadily de
creasing and the people who remain cannot
get away, there being no sale for their
property. Heavy as the taxes are, barely
enough money can be collected to pay the
running expenses Of the government, there
being no thought of improvement. 1t IS
even alleged that the late Legislature was
compelled to encroach upon the school
fund for money TO keep the g overnment
machinery moving. There is no hope for a
better condition of things The mines have
been worked out and the ranches cannot
support the few people who remain because
they are unable 10 go. 1t is argued that 1t
will be necessary to restore the state to
territorial condition, when the federal gov
eminent can take care Of it, or incorporate
in it country and people sufficient to keep
it alive Our contemporary suggests that
Utah is the territory which should be
sacrificed. 1t says the general government
is paying about two hundred thousand
dollars year for the privilege Of main
tanning a territorial government over the
two hundred and fifty thousand people Of
Utah, who are abundantly able to bear
their own governmental expenses; that
this expenditure is an injustice to the tax
PAYERS of the nation. whose money is thus
bestowed upon a community which does
not require it; that Utah win certainly not
be admitted to the Union while the Repub-
licans are in control, which is likely to con
tinue eight years. meanwhile the territory
being public charge on the nation. 1t is
thought that polygamy has been so nearly
destroyed that its enemies in Utah and
Nevada combined will be able to hold it in
check, thereby escaping the danger of a
polygamous state" The Utah people, it is
alleged. are so eager to get from under the
grinding heel ofthe government. tnat they
would gladly accept statehood, even with the
weight of Nevada attached. The cOnclu-
sion reached is that the combination would
prevent the dissolution of fast decaying
state, and relieve the governm ent Of an eX-
pensive load.
Doubtless this scheme is thought to be
cate viii be surprised when Congress and
the people Of Utah do not readily adopt the
plan. He will think all who oppose it rank
dolts. We can assure him that one of the
parties to the project, and the most inter
ested one, emphatically rejects the PROPOSE
ton. We refer, Of course. to the Utah
community, one and all, without regard to
politics OF religion OF previous condi ton.
Utah people have had their full share Of
affection and oppression: they have been
abused and imposed upon for forty years;
they scarcely know the meaning of kind
ness and friendly consideration; for what
few rights they have retained they have
been forced into an unceasing struggle.
But no such affection as that suggested in
the proposed combination has yet been put
upon them. and it is to be hoped that none
will be attempted. Weare not responsible
for the fact that the federal government
paws large sum of money every year for
running this territory; Utah is abundantly
able to pay all its expenses, and is ready to
nav them whenever Congress is willing to |
permit her to do so. At no time during |
the past twenty years has it |
been necess lry for the nation to
pay dollar for carrying on the local gov
eminent. The nation has insisted upon
doing it, and the people being pOwerless to
prevent, ought not TO be punished on that
account.
But we want nothing TO 90 with Nevada,
the rotten b1rough, the stencil from which
cannot be smothered. All that Nevadans !
have been able to do to Cypress and iniure |
this territory they have done, from their |
Senators down to the veriest scrub who
wields the least possible influence. They |
are all rank enemies to Utah, and we don't |
see why this territory should be laden with /
the task of the redemption and saliva
ton of their worthless state. Iu |
fact, we don't understand that it |
is at all essential that the |
state should be redeemed. The best thing
to be done under the circumstances is to
let the thing die as soon as possible, and |
thus get rid Of the nuisance.
Utah is doing very well. She is ready |
and willing to bear her own expenses at
any time when the general government |
wants to stop paying. If Congressman
think it is worth quarter Of a million
wear to administer the laws and control .
affairs here. the Utah people can endure it
without great effort. Bat when Congress
does get tired of this e&trava 'ance ard |
nonsense, let US protest against inficting
ne with Nevada