The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1891-05-07
AGAINST DIsFRANCHIsEMENT,

The greatest result of the late campaign
for the disfranchisement and political an
Inhalation of the Mormon people is made
known today through the columns of THE
HERALD. The Democratic club of this city
has declared: 1--WE are unalterably opposed
to the Acknowledgement of any citizen, ex-
cept for crime, whereof he shall have been
| first duly convicted"
The political question in Utah had as
sumed this phase: Should the Mormons be
DISTINGUISHED, denied the privilege of
naturalization, prevented from acquiring
title to land, and subjected to the danger OF
losing much of the land they already had
IN short, should they be made political and
legal outcasts by the time the non Nor
mons should be enabled to elect a majority
in the legislature?
To this question, the organized Demo
cracy of Salt Lake city and county have
answered with laundering Mo-
No other issue was possible while poll
tics was confined to the parties known as
Peoples party and Liberal party or Nor
mon and non Mormon. Various attempts
were made by mem bers of both these par
| ties to change the issue so that it would
mean something else than the political de-
struction of the Mormon people in case of
Liberal supremacy. The last campaign for
Delegate to Congress settled that forever.
Mr.. c. c. GOODWIN, for fifteen years past
the leader of the Liberal party, the editor
of the Salt Lake Tribune, the only ac-
credited organ of the party, was very
naturally the choice of the Liberal conven-
ton for Delegate to Congress.
The Liberal candidate quickly took a po-
sition. 1t was this: 1.-THE first thing that
will be taken from them 1.-THE Mormonsl
will be the franchise. Then they will find
themselves at the mercy of such laws as
may be prescribed for them. The
next attack will be on their property. y
This will mean final bankruptcy, not only
for the masses, but for the rich in the or
ganization.''
Respectable non Mormons were Mortified
at such doctrine; but only three days before
the election Mr.. GOODWIN exultingly re-
affirmed it, saying that "Mormons have no
right to participate in public political af-
fairs and no real claim to the benefit of the
land laws" -Four thousand non ormons
(Mr. GooDwIN's estimate) refused to vote.
Nothing daunted, however, Mr.. GOODWIN
proceeded to show that no issue other than
disfranchisement of the entire Mormon
population was possible if the Liberal and
Peoples parties were to continue as for
merly. And he so chastised his party with
the valor of his pen, that they saw the
point They must either attempt the DO
litical destruction Of the Mormon people. or
they must form in politics on national
lines. The Salt Lake Democrats have com
pretended the situation and have lived no
to their convictions. They have published
their own emancipation from narrow local
conditions and taken up broad national
issues instead. The solid, beautiful arch
of Democratic principles on which thew
propose to build, is keyed by the declara-
ton against Acknowledgement. The other
principles of Democracy cluster about this
one, and public interest will at first centre
upon it. The platform will create sensa-
ton. Important developments are ex-
pected