Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1890-05-05
THE MORALITY OF THE CITY.
SINCE The sI.iberals,, were ena.

NANs - AAoNNs ~ ESANt blt EtlIS OF
government of this city, vice has
flourished and bloss0med to an ex-
tent never before known in this mu-
nicipality. The members of the
Minister'S Association are entitled
to a modicum of credit for the efforts
they have lately put forth to stem
the torrent. The gloss is taken off
from the Christian endeavor, how
ever, by the fact that in their ankle
ty 10 join church and state together
they gave material aid in placing in
Political power the party which
nourishes vice aid points the finger
OF contempt aud derision at virtue.
OF course there are many members
Of the opposition who DO not take this
reprehensible stand, but as whole
it is undeniably the party of loose
morality. One thing that specially
obli!erates the gloss from the recent
Efforts Of the reverend gentlemen of
the association is that they them
selves belong TO the party in power.
One would suppose from the turn
matters have taken Of late that they
would take a humble seat on the
stool OF repentance aud then hasten
TO come out Of Babylon"
Whatever may be the shortcom-
iDgs Of the gentlemen to whom
we refer, We certainly sympa-
thize with any effort they may
put forth in favor OF the
maintenance Of goOd morals and the
suppression Of vice: hence our desire
for their success in the attempt
made by them to preserve the
sSnctity Of the Sabbath by seeking
to prevail upon the City Council to
enforce the ordinances against GER
tain late eDcrOachmenis in that
direction that have become no
torioUs.
Some Of the destinations thrown
at the delegate OF the association
when he appeared before the Coun-
Gil were by 10 means generous,
especially that embodied in one
special remark-''We have got rid
Of one hierachy and don't want to
erect anotheT''-bIt all men are
liable 10 be contemptuousIy treated
when their enieavors are
directed in the higher channels.
1t might be well for the ministers
70 take up n personal labor with
Orlando w. Powers, on account Of
the potent influence he wields as a
politician over the ''Liheral'' city
officials. Should success attend an
effort at his conversion it is not i'm
probable that something may be
done to induce the City Council
and officers 10 take effective stems 10
stem the tide Of unchristianIlke and
illegal conduct that has lately begun
TO flow. Judge Powers says he does
rot want TO see the people Of Salt
Lake "tOo goOd.-' Whether this
desire is based uuoa an ap-
prehensi0n on the part Of the
as;ute politician that in the eTent Of
popular goodness reaching n high
state Of development he would be
left behind in uncomfortable isola-
ton, We are not prepared to say.
Whether or not this Is the ease is
hest known to himself. Be this as
it may, there seems to be no imme-
diate prospect Of an excess Of good
ness showing itself as n result of
"Biberal'' rule.
After operating on Judge Powers
the ministers might give some at
tention to new field for Christian
endeavor, which Is suggested by
the following from this mornings
issue Of the paper which the clergy
mems association have regarded as
their journalistic oracle:
There was quite a crowd at the
Driving Park yesterday, where num-
erous horses were trotted about for
the admiration of the crowd. Mike
Fitzsersld's Cigar shut out JACK
black gelding in a mile race.
and then served Thoruberg's horse
the same way, winning $40 and $40
purses respectively. besides some side
bets Time, 2-57k and $40. A crowd
viii be out next Sunday"
Here is horse racing, gambling
and general noisy dissertation of
the Sabbath in a wholesale way.
The most disrepurlbIe attempts
have lately bsen made to paint the !
moral past Of this city black. in order |
10 excuse the Ionseness Of the present |
and probable deep depravity Of the !
not very distant future; yet day |
after day innovations upon the do |
main Of decency are being chroni- |
lied that have therefore, had com. |
paratively no existogce within this
municipality. Thus the logic Of
acts smashes the "refuge Of lies. !"
Those who voice the moral senti
nent Of the majority Of the people |
-Latter-day Saints-can do some
hing toward preventing the city
'eing overwhelmed with the more
iebasing phases of modern civiliza-
ion by raising their voices against
'orrupt'ng innovations. The ma
ority can at least, as body, keep
'ioof from the degrading moral CON
.agion now steadily gaining ground.
But the Christian ministers ought
o have much more potent infiu-
'nce in the field Of actual work. as
he labor necessarily must be CON-
iueted among their ow n kind-in a
'oiiucal sense. Judge Powers con-
aited the clergymen on mat
ers pertaining to the late
municipal election. He also con-
ulted on the same subject, the
lass referred to in the paragraph
quoted above. How would it do 10
lave another all refund consultation, |
With view to stopping the stream
II wickedness whose volume is
dpidly swelling? Seeing that the
members OF the Minister'S Associa-
ion engaged in election campaign
work they are entitled to have some
influence upon The preservation
Il a respectable degree Of moral