The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1891-11-27
A GLANCE AT THE RECORD.

Salt Lake City, to-day, presents strange
spectacle to the world. 1t is generally un-
derstood that it has lately been redeemed
from the thralldom of benighted Mormon
rule, and that now we have a real Ameri-
can, not to ssy Christian, city, fully abreast
OF the tidal wave of progress. The news
of the revolution which brought to pass
tue aforesaid redemption was hailed with
unbounded delight throughout the
United States. The press clapped its
hands for gladness, aud good
Christians in some quarters shouted for
Joy that Zion was redeemed OF cour Sc
our fellow citizens throughout our great
country, together with the defeated be-
nighted Mormons, could reasonably expect
great things at the hands Of those who had
brought TO pass this redemption, and who
were to Introduce new regime in the
management of city affairs-a regime that
was to astonish the old inhabitants and in
struct them in the science of municipal
government Such was the flourish of
trumpets with which the present city gov
eminent went into power.
1t is proper to say that when the munich
pal reins were surrendered into the hands
OF the present officials with becoming
modesty by the retiring city authorities,
the corporation was all but free from
bonded Indebtedness; there was a good
round sum in the treasury-more than
quarter of million-and the credit of the
city was all that could be desired; taxes
were at minimum and the city had
reputation for decency, law and
order that was enviable. All this
the worst enemies OF the out
going administration aud the old regime
would be compelled to admit if they had
any regard for fact and truth. 1t is two
years, or nearly SO, since the present gov
eminent, of which so much was expected
and that boosted so loudly Of what it was
going to do, went into power. And what
has 1t done: The time is approaching when
1t must give an account of its ste wardship
to those who placed it in control, and those
who rejoiced at the act, the country al
large, will listen to the recital. We may
be pardoned if we in brief anticipate that
report minus the excuses.
Taxes have been greatly multiplied; the
surplus in the treasury expended; the city
has been plunged into debt and the money
borrowed has also been expended, but what
there is to show for il that will bear anv
just proportion to the amounts expended
no man knoweth; the credit of the CITY is
well nigh ruiued-;ts bonds go begging. For
the hrst time in the history OF Salt Lake
the word "Ooodlern has been whispered
in connection with city officers. and that
not by the enemy" but by the organ of
the party in power; several officers have
resigned" incompetency of which they
were conscious themselves aud OF which
they were suspected by their superiors,
driving them TO the unusual act. But the
saddest remains to be told. The ''redemp-
TOM which placed tue city government in
the hands of the present administration.
was essentially moral reformation. Aud
what do we behold? Prostitution in
creased to point that would disgrace a
seaport town or a mining camp; saloons
increased aud run with all but open doors
on Sundays in defiance of the CITY ordi.
nances; gam bliug dens multiplied and RIM
under the fashionable name OF "club
rooms" where the young men of
the city are being lurei to their
destruction, while burglars, cracks
men, thieves, thugs and foot-pad
seem to have made the town regular
rendezous, where with impunity thew NAV
enter our houses on expeditions of thiev
cry and slug and ROB the unprotected citi-
zen almost under the glare Of the electric
lights and within call of the police. who are
no longer terror to evil-doers or pro-
lection to those who do well. To such an
extent have the evils OF gambling and
prostitution grown, and so shamefully neg
lectful Of its duty has the police force be.
come, that the city council in the most
formal and public manner, by resolutions
signed by the members of the council,
exhorted the police force to execute the laws
and ordinances of the city, especially those
In relation to the offences of gaming and
prostitution.
Gentlemen of the municipal council of
Salt Lake, the flourish of trumpets with
which you went into Office, the reform in
the methods of municipal administration
that you boosted you would intro.
duce, draw upon you the attention
not only of the eyes of all the people of our
city and territory, but of the whole country.
What kind of spectacle do you suppose
you present to your couutrymen in the
light of the results of your administration
of affairs? Do you think that the Chris tian
people who rejoiced at your election two
years ago, and who looked to you to s're-
deem Zion" are proud of you and your
recorda Will they not blush to think how
you have disappointed their high expecta-
tionss And the Mormons! Why. gentle.
men, from your boasts that it was your in
tention to en'ighten their minds on the
science OF government municipal, free them
from the yoke of error which had en-.
thralled them, lead them out of bondage
into the marFelous light of liberty.
enllghten their minds and enlarge their
views and Americanizs If not Christianize
their city-you owed it to them no less than
TO yourselves to have done better.
VIII they not ask as they draw contrast
between the former administration and the
Wanted American administration. SIS
this the change you SO much wanted to
bring to pass4 Are these the kind of i'm
proyements we may expect throughout
when Utah is altogether Americanized. In
what is the new regime better than the