The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1891-01-30
NEGLECTED OPPORTUNITIES.

Apropos the recent commendable action
of the city council and the chamber Of COM
merce in taking steps to deny the infamous
statements and differences of the Illustrated
AmericGns articles respecting the Nor
mons, we cannot help but think that the
non-Mormons of Utah have been slow to
realize how much injury has been done our
territory by permitting SANDER and mis-
representation to so SO long unchecked.
Had it not been for the fact that Utah's
reputation abroad has been undone by
those who have falsely claimed to be her
friend; had they not made it appear that
life and property were insecure in this
community the tide of our prosperity
would years ago have reached higher
mark than it has ever known. Nothing
more effectually checks a community's
prosperity than to have the impression go
out that its peace is uncertain. Capital is
ever timid, and shrinks from contact with
communities where there are likely to be
riots or any violent commotion. 1t is this
evil reputation that has been manufactured
for Utah by men who have lived here, and
who have hoped to prosper personally by
checked Utah's material advancement. We
are pleased to see now, though the day is
late, that an effort is to be made to counter
act the work of lying knaves.
The majority of the people of the terri
tory have done what they could to make
themselves heard in contradiction OF these
falsehoods, but TO little purpose. Their
voices have been drowned in the hue and
cry raised against them. AS well might
they bid the waves of the Atlantic be still,
or the whirlwind cease, as to make any per-
ceptible Roadway against the f1col of false
hood which has overwhelmed them. But
that the Mormon people of Utah have done
their part in an effort to refute the SANDERS
which, while it traduced them, also blurred
the fair fame and hindered the progress of
Utah, let the facts of history bear witness
When in 1857 the Utah legislature heard
that an army was en- route for our terri
tory to suppress rebellion that never ex-
listed except in the minds of corrupt carpet
bag, lying federal officials, it memorialized
Congress to investigate the condition OF af-
fairs in Utah before sending an army,
which rumor then reported on its march
The memorial, however, came too late
That"maternal masculinity, President BU-
CHANAN, had already made his blunder by
starting the army for Utah. 1t has held up
in the mountains where its ardor was
cooled by the frosts and SHOWS of winter,
during which the President came to his
senses and sent peace and investigating
commission to inquire into matters; and
he had the humiliation of learning that
there was no need Of any demonstration of
force, and that his warlike measures were
premature.
When the anti Mormon laws enacted by
Congress in 1874 were under consideration
the territorial legislature adopted the fol-
lowing;
Whereas, A large majority of the people of
this territory are accused of disloyalty. insub-
ordination and other violations of the constitu-
ton and laws of the United States; and
Whereas, These accusations are absolutely
untrue and are made with malicious intent to
procure proscriptive legislation by Congress;
Therefore Being anxious that legislation, if
upon thorough investigation any should be
deemed necessary, should be such as will con-
duce 10 the greatest good of all, we respectfully
and earnestly solicit your honorable body to
send to Utah a commission of investigation
with instructions to inquire into all alleged
abuses in our territorial affairs, and with au-
thority 10 send for persons and papers needed
In the prosecution OF their inquiries.
The assembly also asked Congress to
suspend all action in relation TO Utah until
said investigation could be had. GEORGE
L. WOODS, then the governor of Utah
vetoed that memorial and petitions TO Con-
gress had to be sent without his co-opera-
tion.
Why did Governor WOODS and his asso-
ciates shrink at that time from an investiga
ton of the charges against the people OF
Utahl
When the EDMUNDs bill of 1882 was be.
fore Congress, extraordinary pains were
taken by the overwhelming majority of the
adult population of Utah to deny the
charges which were supposed to justify
that harsh and special legislation Peti.
tions to Congress praying for commission
of investigation into the charges, the truth
of which they denied, were circulated
through the territory and numerously
signed. There were four petitions
SO circulated, one gotten up fol
the men, one for the women, and
ehSh Ouo 4ol JIG yOubu Oh 6acn
sex. That of the men was signed
by 1926 persons; the women's
19,1oS; the young mems 1896; young
ladies' IA, 152; making a total of 65. 152
The petition was courteous in language,
respectfully rendered, moderate in the
demands; and such was the Importance OF
the issues involved that they ought to have
received the attention of Congress, Blu,
the enemies of Utah said the object of the
request for commission was simply ruse
to secure time: these enemies then had the
scar of the court'; the petitions were
thrust ruthlessly aside, and the unjust, moi
to say infamous, legislation passed
In 1885, after the Inauguration of the
judicial raid which paralyzed our industries
and well-uigh stopped the wheels of enter
prise, the request for a commission tt
fairly and thoroughly investigate the Utah
situation was repeated, but without avail
In every stage of these misrepresenta.
tons the people of Utah have petitioned
for investigation in the most respectful
terms; their rejected petitions have
been answered only with contempt
Had the conservative non Mormons of Utah
considered the Things which would make
for their own peace and prosperity, and
the permanent good Of the territory, the,