Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1890-02-18
WORE COMMENTS on THE ELEC.
TIOS.

THE West Shore is n magaZiI
published in Portland, Oregon.
Is not a heavy weight in the arer
Of journalism, but it has few con
ments upon the recent election !
this city which we will MOTTO
Here they are:
"Truly every American has cause {
rejoice in the official overthrow Of tn
Mormon Priesthood in Salt Lake City
and il the stories Of official corruption
and misrule in that city be but hal
true, the citizens OF that misgoverne'
municipality be they Gentle or Nor
mon, have great reason to coDgratu
late themselves. The Mormon pres
claim that notorious fraud was prac
ticed, without which the Liberal ina.
joriiy Of 500 would have been 500 the
other way. II there is any ground
whatever for this assertion they
should take the matter into the cauris.
The American people cannot afford to
permit fraud TO be practiced at cleo
tons even for the overthrow Of church
domination in civil affairs. The
chances are that there is but little
wool Fraud is cried by defeated party
so persistently that the shout IS ex-
pected every time corruption is over
thrown. No one will be inclined to
believe in its existence unless at least
an effort is made to prove it in the
courts"
Such talk as this about the "ofiicial
overthrow Of the Mormon priest
hood in Salt Lake City'' is absurd
to a degree difficult to describe. The
members Of the non-Mermon''
churches in this city were almost
solid in their opposition to the Peo-
pies Party, aud the result was sue
cess TO the "Liberals" with whom
they united. Now suppose thst the
Peoples Party win next time, how
would it sound for a man or public
journal to say that the priesthood Of
the Catholic, Episcopal, Methodist,
Baptist and other churches here had
been overthrown? Would it not
sound like the gibberish with which
idiocy amuses itself? The language
used by the We& Shore has much
the same sound to intelligent people
here. The veal or woe Of the
Mormon priesthood" no more de-
pended upon the municipal election
in this city, than did the fate of the |
Catholic priesthood, or the clergy of |
any other denomination. The ig-
norance and stupidity of the aver
age editor who undertakes to treat |
upon Utah affair, is only equalled |
oy the assurance with which he
ieigns to possess correct information |
concerning them.
The intimation that the city has
been corruptly governed by the
Peoples Party is new. AS a mat
er Of fact tourists, travellers and
writer's have almost invariably re-
erred 10 this as a model among
American cities, in its low rate Of
aNation and the excellent order
Corruption of city
fficials was not even alleged rs an
ssue in the campaign. That the
'Liberals' won the election by
rduds Of the most daring and brazen
haracter, 10 not even IvnivSa Uy
heir party managers. Indeed they
admit and glory in the
nth Of the charge, relying upon
ie condition, boosted Of publicly by ,,
lie Of their leaders, that the Glib
ais" have control of the courts of
is Territory.
The condition of jurisprudence in
IS Territory does not inspire con-
ence in the outcome Of a case /
tween "Mormons" and their op-
nents, unless it is one that can be .
pealed to a higher tribunal than I
Territorial courts. Jury trial, !,
the English and American sense !
the term, has long been
'ctically abolished in this Terri
y. "Mormons'' are vigorously -.
cluded from the jury lists, and :
ould one happen to be summoned /,
venire. a cast-iron oath, aimed
his religion, must be taken by
m. The practical result is that no
Aormons" sit on juries.
That proof Of fraud is entitled TO
weight unless presented in the
'urts, IS proposition original with
eS Shore. Apply this rule 10
tactical politics, and the result !
ould be that the honesty Of public
zen ought not to be questioned, and
Ie people ought to continue to elect
lem to Office, and support the party
ey represent, until they have been
'nvicted OF crime. Facts notorious
any circumstance Of current his
ry' ought not TO influence the ciu-
n in casting his ballot, nor in de- .
rmining which party he will er- a
'rse, until judiciaIly established =
lie aosurdity Of such a position is II
, apparent to need comment
Inc iraids by which the ''Liber.
~ secured a triumph in this city
: historical, and viii be held by
3 community as notorious facts. y
neither the evidence of than, shou 4