Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1890-05-02

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would divide among themselves
and thus so lose their strength that
they could DE either overcome or
manipulated, at the POLLS
Failure attended this plan, and n
legislative commission for Utah was
next urged. This could be ap-
pointed and given control over the
Territory, in a manner that would
afford ground for the claim that all
its citizens were being treated alike,
and that none Of them bad been
disfranchised on account ofreligious
belief or any other cause, but that
Congress was simply exercising its
rightful power to give a Territory
such a form Of government as it
deemed best. For a long time this
was favored plan for eva,iing the
constitutional safeguards in favor Of
religious liberty, and against religi-
Gus tests; bat for reasons not neces-
sary here TO recount, 1t was not con-
summated.
Next Governor West sought to
get the Territory under his thumb,
by log-rolling for congressional legis-
lation that would give him power to
appoint county and precinct officers.
His successor in office seized a hand
spike AMI tried TO roll the same log;
bat the efforts made in this direction
only succeeded far enough to make
the probate judges appointive-but
not by the Governor. A split in the
''Liberal" ranks resulted 10 the ap-
plication Of ''Liberal,, influences
at Washington which in the nick
Of time turned the current that " as
carrying a mass Of patronage to the
Office OF the Governor OF Utah, ami
the freight wa. landed at the White
House instead.
Further efforts, however. were
made to secure for the Governor
power to appoint county and pre-
cinct officers, but the brazenness of
that functionary in reaching after so
much patronage Disguised some
Congressman, and the danger Of
giving it to him deferred others, to
an extent which defeated this
scheme. Next in order, to throw
an air Of mOiesty over the Governor,
which was, however, entirely ficti-
tious and hypocritical, as close ex-
animation will show. proposition |
was made to Congress that |
the Governor, Secretary and |
President Of the Legislative
Council, be given the management |
and control Of elections in this Ter
ritory. AS the NEWS showed at the
time, this scheme was intended to
make the Governor successor to the
Utah Commission. or the board of
three the Governor and Secretary
would be the majority. The Secre-
tary would OF course solidify with
His Excellency, and the third man
would be figure head.
About the time this scheme was
matured, another was perfected to
place this city under Liberal" rule.
1t was then believed by the nom
"Mormon" elements that they would
soon be able to capture this county
and the Territory, and so strong a
sentiment arose from among them
against giving the Governor power
to count out and IN rs he might see
fit that this conspiracy has so far
failed, and its success has become
highly improbable.
IN the meantime the evolution
above referred to has progressed.
AS the failure of one plot has been
followed by the forming of an
other, and as the elements Of
selfishness, ambition, religious
bigotry and political Jealousy
have in turn struggled for the
and gained and lost advan-
tage, the whole contest has grad
lally assumed the aspect Of a deter
mined war, not merely local, but by
the whole nation, as repre-
sented by Congress, against re-
IigiOus liberty. Scruples IN respect
10 constitutional safeguards have
by degrees lost their restraining
1ower. and Congress seems about
10 make n mad assault upon the
Of our national fabric,
liberty Of conscience, by passing the ,
iIsfranchisement act now pending.
fthis bill shall be passed, and II 4,
he nation can prosper with such
upon its statute books, ,
he class at which It is aimed will ,
,e able to endure Il.
4