Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1890-12-31


Fint n. e. Church on Monday
night was . Significant occasion-
III object Was Iaudable from every
standpoint. A lasRe body Of rcpu-
table people assembled 10 express
alarm Ut the appalling rate at which
crime, immortality and corruption
, have increased In Salt Lake during
the last few months. The citizens
met to express their detestafion OF
the situation and to formulate de-
mand upon the city government
that its Officers shall enforce the
laws in order to produce a social
rectification.
| The speeches, - rule, were
telling and spirited and the state
ments in reference to the shortcom-
ings Of the officials wers refreshing
" frank. Some Of the remarks
were not In unison with the geueral
character Of the call for the gather
ing; Neither were the resolutions
wheA- first presented, but the pro-
nouuced sentiment Of the great bulk
ofthe aseemblage was Enthusiastically
generous and broad. This was
manifested At once by the alarrity
with which the resolutions were,
by amendment almost entirely
cleared Of their originally sectional
or contracted aspect.
The meeting was mostly composed
Of citizens belonging to the "Lib-
eral" party. The rrason for this
was that the COMMITTEES only sent
the call for the meeting to one
newspaper 1.-THE chief Liberal organl
and it was published only on the
rorning OF the day on which the
citizens werr invited to meet, and
again the same evening In this
journal. A special invitation was
received at this Office from the com.
mittee. The people who gathered
were . dne audience. The occasion
drew together goodly representa-
ton Of the respectable and moral
element Of the community.
The turbulent, depraved and
vicious could have no inducement
to participate In such q movement,
or to be present except to obstruct its
laudable object The purpose Of
that gathering was such that, In
furthering its attainment, all good
men and women, Of every class and
every shade Of opinion, could afford
to he brothers and sisters. The in
tent embodies . common cause
the suppression Of vice and the ele-
walton Of morality.
One Of the speakers, Mr.. Gregg,
expressing himself from the stand
point Of "Liberai'' and not from
that ofsimply . citizen, asserted that
in Calling this meeting his party
could not possibly have placed in
the hands Of their political sp-
ponents q heavier club. This is,
DOUBTLESS, true, but he is no: . mag
unanimous antagonist who would use
such q weapon Unfortunately. 1t
might 6e properly used for purposes
Of defense. but only extraordinary
circumstances would Justify itshppli-
cation for purposes Of attack And
in any case 1t would not be used
against the class who were particle
pants In and in sympathy with the
proceedings Of Monday nights
gathering. But there should he no
objection to its use In the demolition
Of existing corruptioRs in the city
government and against the crimes
upon society now 30 prevalent rs to
cause the most serious alarm to
every good citizen.
We with 1t distinctly understood
that the object Of that meeting is
not one that can be treated from a
sectional or partixan standpoint
any moro than its interest
can be narrowed down to
any class Of respectable peo-
pie. II iss Z FL. 2..s..ox seetisaai
hate which some unfortunate peo-
pie permit themselves to be imbued
with which spells everything and
is one Of the causes Of encourage
ment given to the very condition Of
that 10 deplored. The
decree Of that small-souled senti-
ment exhibited ut the gathering of |
Monday night was the only element
that marred the beauty and consist
ency Of the occasion. But We en-
phatically assert that what there
was Of 1t was opposed to the
genius Of the assembly a. . whole.
This fact was made perfectly clear
on Monday night, especially toward
the Gloss Of the proceedings Of the
meeting.
One Of the leading points TO be
now is the responsibility
for the numerous dens Of vice, the
I'd non-enforcement of
the laws, which now disgrace our
city and expose it, good
people to danger. Attempts have
been made to fastsn 1t upon some
particular branch Of the govern
nent. We believe that this is im-
proper and that the whole machinery |
Is out Of gear. 1t requires cleanir 6,
,iling and setting In shape. 1t will
Don be discovered that An ex .yres-
ion Of popular sentiment Will not
lone suffice TO produce . reforma-
Ton, because tho government has
llready set that 1t defiance In refer.
.nce to the financial burdens IL has
imposed on the people. This fact
s On record, and We can res
,rrect it II required. Judge Wamp-
er was right when he favored def
lite action on the part Of the people.
indeed, in order to show the con-
empt In which . healthy popular
ointment IL held by tho City Coun-
IL It is only necessary to pcint to
ast nights proceedings OF that
'ody. The resolutions adopted ar
nights meeting Of citi-
ems were presented andr nd. They
make special mention Of the appli-
alton Of the variety thc.stre con-
ern for = liquor license, and
equest that in the interrs Of
norality. IL be not Qrante4l. Tn fb>