The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1890-02-16
NOT SO HOPELESS.

1t is not pleasing picture which the edi-
tor of the Chicago Times draws for the
people of Salt Lake as consequence of the
late election. After referring to the Peo-
pies defeat, tie editor says:
The despair of the Mormon caused by this
popular reversal will arise more from apprehen-
sion for the safety of his property than for re-
greet at the defeat of his church. The gentle
population in Utah includes many Adventures,
who may be likened to the carpet baggers that
in the days of reconstruction infested the south
and fattened upon so much of its sub
stance as survived the ravages of the
war. The property owning class in Utah
are rule Mormons. This is particularly
true of Salt Lake city. The new municipal au-
thorities are pledged to elaborate improvements
in the way of public works, and what between
special assessments and general taxation. the
substantial pavement of streets OF great width
the creation of a sewerage system, improved
means of lighting vast increase in the official
class, including police and fire departments.
Mormon property will have some pretty lively
burdens TO bear. If they themselves have
hitherto spoiled the Egyptian the Egyp-
tian. rctaliating with a vengeance will
now load their property with taxes
VIII Oh will sustain an army of contractors
An era of improvement, perhaps an era of
lob berry, will commence in Salt Lake CITY, The
Mormon will be made TO pay through the nose
The beggars among the gentiles will be on horse
back. and the proverb runs that fellows thus
mounted ride to the devil 1t is not improbable
that while the money holds out Salt Lake will
be made model city in its public appearances
1t may enjoy boom for a time becoming the
most enterprising and the best advertised of the
mountain cities, but its affairs are not passing
mi 10 hes and il-a1r
aged with discretion or with Just regard TO prop
erty rights.
The Liberal victo.y of last Monday
seems to have conveyed to the minds of
good many editors an impression similar to
that so frankly expressed above, and it is
to be regretted that SO many of the journal
lists are pleased by the gloomy outlook
which is presented to their eyes. Their
pleasure comes from the fact that they
think the Mornons will be the chief suf-
ferers from a reign of systematic and de-
termineG extravaganza and spoiliation. It
is not creditable to mans head or heart
that lie reioices over another's misfortunes.
In this Instance the rejoicing displays a
positive badness of heart, for nothing in
the history Of the Mormon people suggests
the RICH fulness of the infliction which the
average editor chuckles to think is coming
upon the Saints.
But let US hope the Times and other pa
pers will be mistaken in their forecast, and
that their predictions will fall far short Of
verifcation. While the non Mormons,
with a unanimity that was surprising in
view of all the circumstances, voted the
ibpral ticket 1ve are roinp IN c,,roa hot
they are not all in favor of the recklessness
and extravaganza which the press Of the
country so generally expects. If wildness
is to characterize the administration, and
this is to be turned into temporary para
disc for contractors and spectators, of
course the Mormons will suffer most for
they are the largest owners of property,
and it is their property which the assess
ors and collectors can easiest reach, as it
consists largely of hous IS and land. AT the
same time the Gentiles will not csc ape
The possessions of non Mormons run into
the millions, and while Mormons
would be oppressed now and then by the
demands of the collector, life would not be
sweet and blissful dream for some humid
reds of house and land owning Liberals.
If street must be paved, the abuttlng lot
of the Gentle cannot be skipped when the
assessment is levied; when a sewer is to
be laid, 1t will necessarily have to be run
in front of the Liberals property after
passing the Mormon'S: the cost of in
creased police service and larger fire de-
partment will have to be met from the
public fund. and this latter is made up by
enforced contributions from Mormons and
Gentiles, equitably levied. If the pressure
shall become too severe, if the ''era of i'm
provement' shall become so costly as to be
oppressive, we imagine the protest from
the careful and money-loving Gentle will
be quite as numerous and equally as loud
as those which will be uttered by the
thrifty and economic Mormon. The OBJ
iections of the latter might not be needed,
but some attention will be paid to those OF
the former class.